Today's Date:   Tuesday,  April 02, 2013

1. BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL ISSUES

Korea-Turkey Free Trade Agreement to be Implemented on May 1 [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20130401/54129520/1

Summary: Korean government announced that Korea-Turkey Free Trade Agreement will take effect on May 1, which will make Turkey the 46^th country that will have free trade agreement with Korea.  The FTA will reduce import tariffs on 99.6 percent of products that Korea imports from Turkey.  However, 40.7 percent of Turkish agricultural products will be excluded from tariff reductions.

2. MARKETING ISSUES

USDA Forecasts $6.3 Billion of Agricultural Exports to S. Korea This Year [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2013033112351

Summary: USDA’s international trade report released on March 30 said that Agricultural exports of the U.S. to Korea in 2013 was forecast to total $6.3 billion, up by $100 million from the previous year.  The report explained that high value consumer oriented products, including fresh oranges, cherries, almonds, dairy products and fruit juices, were enjoying good sales in Korea partly due to KORUS FTA.

3. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

China Reports Deaths from ‘Turkey Avian Influenza’ for the First Time in the World [Korean, OSY]

http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2013033116241

Summary: Chinese press reported on March 31 that two Chinese people infected by avian influenza died recently.  The press pointed out that it was the first incident around the world that people died from H7N9 type avian influenza virus found in turkey.  The press added that there was another patient in China affected by the same virus and was in serious condition.