{ "error": "", "type": "text", "title": "USTR Welcomes Passage of Amendments to Korea’s Distant Water Fisheries Development Act Following First Ever Environment Consultations under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement", "slug": "ustr-welcomes-passage-of-amendments-to-koreas-distant-water-fisheries-development-act-following-first-ever-environment-consultations-under-the-united-states-korea-free-trade-agreement", "text": "
\"The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) welcomes passage by Korea\u2019s National Assembly of amendments to Korea\u2019s Distant Water Fisheries Development Act. This action follows the first ever environment consultations under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) wherein the United States raised concerns regarding Korea\u2019s response to the illegal fishing activities of its vessels. USTR applauds the significant efforts Korea has made to strengthen its regime to deter and penalize illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. USTR, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and other relevant U.S. government agencies, will continue to work closely with the government of Korea and will follow developments in the implementation of the recently amended Act, including the issuance of an Enforcement Ordinance and Implementation Rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe commend Korea for acting expeditiously to strengthen its regime to combat illegal fishing, which disadvantages law-abiding fishermen everywhere,\u201d<\/strong> said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. \u201cThis action demonstrates that the Trump Administration\u2019s strong commitment to using tools such as environmental monitoring and enforcement provisions under our trade agreements can produce real results that help protect and conserve our ocean resources.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The U.S. request for environment consultations under KORUS marks the fourth time in history that the U.S. has invoked the environmental monitoring and enforcement provisions of a trade agreement, and all four instances have occurred during the Trump Administration.\"<\/p>",
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