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The U.S. has recently asked Korea to delay tighter car exhaust standards that are to go into force in January in view of the dismal state of the auto industry.
A government official on Sunday said U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens asked Environment Minister Lee Mann-ee on Dec. 16 to postpone application of the standards for American cars. Her request was also delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. But the official said the government will make no commitment before U.S. president-elect Barack Obama is sworn in on Jan. 20.
The official said the U.S. asked for "emergency relief" since American automakers are tipped to suffer as the Korea-U.S. FTA is held up in the legislature. "At present, Korea has no plan to ease or revise the environmental standards," he added.
Meanwhile, more than 5,000 U.S.-made gasoline-fueled cars comprising 782 GMs, 2,111 Fords, and 2,392 Chryslers were imported into Korea between January and October this year.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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