Intraindustry Specialization and the Proposed Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement

Changes in intraindustry specialization indicators over the 2000-2007 period are used to assess factor adjustment pressures that may arise in Korea from the proposed Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). There is considerable scope for intraindustry specialization between Korea and the United States. Results show few industries in Korea are candidates for adjustment problems. The 14 industries that may face adjustment pressures account for 13% of all Korean imports from the United States. Long tariff phase-out periods, tariff-rate quotas and import safeguards will be used to ease factor adjustment pressures in import-sensitive industries.