Tuesday, August 31, 2010. Featuring Ambassador Han Duk-soo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States
Update on U.S. – Korea Relations
and the U.S. – Korea FTA
Featuring
His Excellency Han Duk-soo
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
8:00 am – 9:30 am
Union Square Board Room
600 University Street, First level
Downtown Seattle
$20 members
$23 non-members
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Join us for a compelling update on the status of the Korea – U.S. Free Trade Trade Agreement (KORUS) by Ambassador Han Duk-soo of the Republic of Korea. KORUS represents the third-largest FTA in the world in dollar terms, behind only NAFTA and the EU. Korea is the U.S.’s seventh largest trading partner, ahead of France, Brazil, and India. Two-way trade last year reached over 83 billion dollars last year.
Korea was the U.S.’s 8th largest export market in 2008 and Washington State’s fifth largest export market. Major U.S. exports include agriculture products, aircraft, machinery, and organic chemicals. In 2009, Washington exports to Korea were over $2.5 billion.
The software and services story is equally compelling. In 2006, U.S. companies exported $8.3 billion in computer technology and electronics to Korea. While not tracked nationally, the Korean consumers’ consumption of software and services is growing as well, given high domestic income coupled with the highest broadband penetration in the world.
His Excellency Han Duk-soo was appointed ambassador of the Republic of Korea on March 20, 2009. Ambassador Han previously served as prime minister (2007-09) and deputy prime minister (2005-07), during which time he was also minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy. He also served as senior secretary and secretary to the president for economic affairs, ambassador of the Korean Permanent Delegation to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, minister for trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, vice minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and commissioner of the Korean Industrial Property Office.
Ambassador Han served in various positions in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Trade and Industry. He graduated from the Department of Economics at Seoul National University and holds a master’s and a doctorate in economics from Harvard University.
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Registration: Admission is $20 for TDA members and $23 for non-members. Refunds may not be made after Thursday, August 26. For additional information or to register over the phone please contact Samantha Paxton at 206-389-7319 or via email at samanthap@seattlechamber.com.
Tags: Ambassador Han Duk-soo, FTA, Korea, KORUS, U.S. Chamber
