South Korea Speeds Up FTA With Mexico
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun’s visit here will likely be a great challenge for the two countries, which are haggling over a free trade agreement (FTA) across the Pacific Ocean.
During the state visit by President Roh to the Central American nation from Sept. 8 to 10, South Korea hopes to speed up negotiations for an economic partnership agreement (EPA), which includes an FTA and other measures for economic cooperation.
The two countries have been in consultation on the matter since May last year when they launched a joint study team for the EPA. But, just ahead of the scheduled South Korea-Mexico summit, Mexico declared a breakdown in the negotiations, citing unfavorable public opinion at home.
In addition to unfavorable public opinion in Mexico, which believes Mexico has already signed “too many’’ FTAs, South Korean officials said, Mexico’s request for “additional concessions’’ was one of the barriers that stalled the negotiations.
More: times.hankooki.com
Mexico Seeks to Boost Trade Ties
The top Mexican envoy in Seoul believes that President Roh Moo-hyun’s visit to Mexico will help the two countries establish a ``strategic partnership.’’
``Mexican President Vicente Fox will tackle many bilateral issues with President Roh during the summit meeting in Mexico,’’ Mexican Ambassador to Seoul Leandro Arellano said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. ``Among others, they are going to discuss how to establish a strategic partnership between the two countries.’’
The ambassador said that Mexico and South Korea have developed relations in a remarkable way and it is time to upgrade the level
Korea Beats Football Legends Mexico 1-0
The South Korean football team finished up its overseas training on a high note with a victory over FIFA sixth-ranked Mexico. Lee Dong-gook was in luck 15 minutes into the friendly at Los Angeles’ Memorial Coliseum, netting the winning goal in the 1-0 game. Korea dominated for most of the match, but out of the multiple scoring opportunities allowed by the Mexican defense, Korea was only able to convert one.
This victory comes four years and eight months after Korea’s last win over the formidable Mexicans, a 2-1 triumph at the Confederations Cup in
Japan beats Mexico 6-1 in WBC
Jim Allen Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter With its back to the wall, Japan remained alive in the World Baseball Classic with an inspiring 6-1 victory over Mexico at Angel Stadium on Tuesday.
Japan will qualify for a berth in Saturday's semifinals by beating South Korea on Wednesday and not allowing more than six runs in the process.
Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka pointed Pool 1 toward a 1-2 Asian finish by working five scoreless innings and posting Japan's first win in the quarterfinal round. South Korea, the only undefeated team in the 16-nation tournament, is almost assured of
Korea, Mexico Shake Hands on Strategic Partnership
President Roh Moo-hyun and his Mexican counterpart Vincente Fox on Friday (local time) agreed to form, a strategic partnership between their countries.
The two heads of state also agreed to sign a strategic economic complementation agreement (SECA) as soon as possible to facilitate trade and investment between the two nations. A SECA is less extensive than a free trade agreement and requires tariffs on particular items to be lifted through negotiations. Mexico has an FTA with Japan but is reluctant to form one with Korea because it worries it would increase its trade deficit.
Roh and North's envoy meet at Mexico City fete
On the third day of his visit here, President Roh Moo-hyun met with local businessmen, toured a South Korean product exhibition, dined with the Mexican president and had a brief, unscheduled encounter with the North Korean envoy to Mexico.
At the dinner on Friday, hosted by Mexico's President Vicente Fox, Mr. Roh chatted with So Jae-myong, the North Korean ambassador, for a few minutes. Mr. So approached Mr. Roh and his wife to introduce himself. Mr. Roh told Mr. So he hoped North-South Korean relations would improve, and Mr. So said he
Borgetti Gets Mexico Call
New Bolton Wanderers striker Jared Borgetti has been called up by Mexico for their World Cup qualifying game against Costa Rica on August 17.
The former Pachuca and Santos Laguna goal machine is a key member of the Mexican side which will want to put one over on their South American rivals and take a another step closer to next years World Cup finals in Germany.
Borgetti has scored over 30 goals for his country since making his debut against Ecuador in February 1997. He was an integral part of the Mexican team that reached the World Cup
Mexicos Archundia to handle Germany-Italy semifinal
Mexicos Benito Archundia was selected to handle the semifinal match between host Germany and Italy, making him the first referee to control five matches at one soccer World Cup tournament.
His fellow Mexican Jose Ramirez and Canadas Hector Vergara will work the touchlines for Tuesdays match in Dortmund, with Japanese pair Toru Kamikawa and Yoshikazu Hiroshima serving as the fourth and fifth officials, FIFA announced yesterday.
Archundia has already been referee for first-round matches between Brazil-Croatia, France-South Korea and Czech Republic-Italy, and the second-round match between Switzerland and Ukraine.
This is the first World
President Roh Set to Depart for Mexico
President Roh Moo-hyun, accompanied by the First Lady, will depart Korea on Thursday to make state visits to Mexico and Costa Rica and attend the upcoming UN summit in New York. During his two-day stay in Mexico on Friday and Saturday, President Roh will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox and discuss plans to promote bilateral cooperation. He will also meet with local Koreans to mark the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to Mexico and encourage the descendents of Korean immigrants.
President Roh will spend Sunday and Monday in Costa Rice, meeting with President
Mexico to play five exhibition games in U.S. next year before World Cup
Mexico will play five international friendlies in the United States next year before the World Cup, including a March matchup against Ghana, a first-round opponent of the U.S. team.
Mexico will play Ghana on March 1 in the Dallas area, Soccer United Marketing said Wednesday. The United States plays the Black Stars on June 22 at Nuremberg, Germany, in the final first-round game for the Americans at the World Cup,
Mexico meets Norway on Jan. 25 at San Francisco, four days before Norway plays the United States in Carson,
Hurricane Emily's winds start battering Mexico
Hurricane Emily started lashing the beaches of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula late Sunday.
The Category 4 storm blew down signs and trees, leaving Isla Mujeres and parts of the island of Cozumel and Cancun without electricity.
Emily's eye would pass over Cozumel early Monday, authorities predicted.
The hurricane did slightly weaken as it approached Mexico, with speeds dropping from 235 kilometres per hour to 220 km/h.
Earlier Sunday, chaos ruled at Cancun, Mexico's airport as tourists waited for flights to escape hurricane Emily.
At Toronto's Pearson Airport, Dave Job arrived on one flight -- but without his son.
While concerned, "I'm a
