S.Korea to double rice imports

S.Korea to double rice imports

SEOUL: South Korea has agreed to double rice imports to extend a World Trade Organization (WTO) accord that allows Seoul a grace period of staying out of market-opening, news reports said Sunday.

In a deal with key rice exporters, South Korea has agreed to expand the quota from the four percent of its total domestic consumption to 7.9 percent over the next decade until 2014, Yonhap news agency said.

The deal, which was wrapped up last week by negotiations with the United States, would be announced in the coming week to report it to the WTO, Yonhap said. Independent confirmation was not immediately available.

South Korean farmers have protested any moves to expand rice imports, accusing the government of rushing a fresh WTO agreement without consultations with them. -- AFP