Amy Jackson, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce Korea or AMCHAM, expressed full support for the free trade agreement between U.S. and South Korea in her inaugural press conference in Seoul on Monday.
“Unfortunately, US domestic politics is making it difficult for the US Congress to take up this important agreement at this time, but AMCHAM will continue to do everything it can to ensure the agreement is ratified in as early a timeframe as is possible,” she said.
The former Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Korea showed strong will to continue the role of helping to further enhance the alliance between two countries, saying that her predecessor Tami Overby, together with David Ruch the current AMCHAM Chairman as well as past AMCHAM Chairmen, worked very hard to ensure that the works as a positive force in Korea.
“I am certain that this landmark agreement is not a matter of if but simply a matter of when,” she added.
A group of the chamber in Korea is going to travel to Washington DC the first week of November to participate in the annual US-Korea Business Council meeting, she said.
They plan to meet high-level USG officials in the administration and the congress and promote Korea and discuss the importance of ratification of the KORUS FTA and other key issues.
AMCHAM, in fact, makes several trips to the U.S every year, which the chamber calls the Washington ‘Doorknock’ because it knocks on the door of many key officials in the US Administration and members of the US congress to help educate them as to how much Korea has changed in recent years and to promote Korea and many issues of mutual interest.
“I will do my best to serve as a bridge between the two countries, to maintain a very positive relationship between AMCHAM and the Korean public and private sectors and to help Korea achieve its economic and trade goals…I plan to carry on the great legacy that I have inherited,” she added.
Jackson, director of U.S.-based C&M International, an international trade and consulting firm, has been posted to lead the AMCHAM Korea on September 1. During her tenure at CMI, she assisted U.S. corporate clients in addressing priority market access issues in Asia, with a particular focus on Korea and the US-Korea FTA negotiations.
By Jung, Eunsun
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