S. Korea Plan To Exclude Rice From FTA

South Korea said Monday it remains adamant in its demand that rice be excluded from ongoing free trade talks with the United States.

An eighth round of the negotiations, which began in June last year, is scheduled to open in Seoul on Thursday. The deadline for agreement is late this month.

Rice is a potential major sticking point in the trade talks as South Korean farmers and civic groups violently oppose the opening of the market.