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 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea and the European Union were set to launch free trade talks on Monday, a deal both sides said would boost bilateral commerce and complement efforts to forge a global trade pact.
"The Korea-EU FTA will provide an excellent opportunity for Korea to become the East Asia FTA hub linking Europe, Asia and the United States," South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said at a press conference with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson on Sunday.
Negotiating teams were to meet Monday in Seoul for the first round of actual give and take, although discussions have been ongoing since 2003.
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