Rice Excluded From U.S.-S. Korea Deal

A proposed free-trade agreement between South Korea and the U.S. will not include opening up the sensitive South Korean rice market, an official said Monday.

Rice will not be included in the pact reached Monday after marathon talks. The agreement still requires legislative approval from both countries.

South Korea had sought to exclude rice from the deal under pressure from farmers who had expressed concern that eliminating protections would destroy the domestic industry.