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Report: Ex-Trump adviser says South Korea trade deal won't be scrapped

By Elizabeth Shim
Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, told a former South Korean prime minister the incoming administration will focus on bilateral free trade agreements. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI
Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, told a former South Korean prime minister the incoming administration will focus on bilateral free trade agreements. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Donald Trump's call for the abandonment of trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership has invited speculation on whether he would scrap other agreements.

But according to former South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, the incoming Trump administration is likely to keep existing trade deals like the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, also known as the KORUS FTA, Yonhap reported Thursday.

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Chung's office said the former South Korean official met with ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on Sunday in Seoul to discuss foreign and economic policy.

Manafort, who left the Trump campaign in August but has said he remains aware of the activities of the U.S. president-elect's transition team, reportedly told Chung the United States going forward will focus on bilateral FTAs, rather than multilateral trade agreements, according to the South Korean news agency.

That policy would mean the future Trump administration would retain the existing KORUS FTA.

Manafort also told Chung that Trump plans to cut taxes and invest about $3 trillion in U.S. public infrastructure, according to the report.

The two politicians discussed the need to pursue six-party talks on the North Korea nuclear issue and strengthening U.S.-South Korea relations.

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South Korean Deputy National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong is to meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Thursday in Washington, D.C., to discuss North Korea, South Korean news service Newsis reported.

Trilateral talks are to be held with Japanese representative Shinsuke Sugiyama.

Cho said the timing reflects "the U.S. determination to escalate the level of pressure on North Korea," according to Yonhap.

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