OECD chief concerned at 'protectionist mood' in US Congress

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SEOUL, June 19 (AFP): Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Angel Gurria expressed concern today at a "protectionist mood" in the US Congress, saying it could threaten planned trade pacts with South Korea and other countries.

The US and South Korea signed a free trade agreement (FTA) last June but it is still to be ratified by both countries' legislatures. And Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential hopeful, has called the deal "Badly flawed".

"There is a protectionist mood which worries us," Gurria told reporters. "This mood was accentuated in the (presidential primary) campaign.

"Now, people say a lot of things in campaigns but still it was a leitmotif-it came back all the time."

Gurria said he does not believe recent street protests in Seoul against the resumption of US beef imports endanger the separate and wider FTA.

He called the FTA deal important for both countries, adding: "I don't think anyone is going to let this drop."

But he cautioned that it would be necessary to watch events in Congress.