March 17, 2007	Saturday	Safar 27, 1428

WASHINGTON, March 16: Ahead of a two-week deadline, the US and South Korea expressed optimism on Friday of crafting an ambitious free trade agreement as they prepared for the final stretch of tough negotiations.

"We've come a long way, we still have a way to go but I firmly believe we can get there by the end of March," chief US negotiator Wendy Cutler told a forum in Washington.

She said quality would not be sacrificed in the rush to complete the deal, the biggest free trade pact since the 1993 Nafta.

"Let me just say that it is not going to be any deal. I believe we can achieve a high quality, comprehensive and balanced deal that both (sides) can take home and get the necessary stakeholders' support to get through the respective legislative bodies," she said.

US President George W. Bush's powers to fast-track trade agreements expire in June. That gives US negotiators up to March 31 to present a deal for a mandatory 90-day Congressional review that would then be subject to just an outright yes-or-no vote without amendments.

Wendy said after negotiations at the officials-level the coming week, a "handful" of outstanding and sensitive issues could be taken up with the top leadership of the two countries for final resolution.

When the eighth round of negotiations in Seoul ended last week, the two sides had closed three chapters of the prospective deal -- on customs, competition and government procurement, Cutler said.

"Both sides have kept a high level of ambition and at same time showed flexibility towards the deal," Choi said.—AFP