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U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economy-wide ... - USITC

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device pricing, reimbursement, and regulatory policies, the FTA should lessen the<br />

opportunities and incentives for engaging in unethical business practices. 537<br />

An analysis of international price and quantity data comparing <strong>Korea</strong>n imports to other<br />

comparable countries indicates that the potential effect of NTMs on <strong>Korea</strong>n imports may be<br />

to restrict the quantity of imports or raise the price of imports for medical devices. As box<br />

3.5 suggests, U.S. exports of ultrasound scanning apparatuses may be affected not only by<br />

tariffs, but by NTMs as well. Implementation of the NTM-related provisions of the FTA will<br />

likely be critical for U.S. exporters to fully realize the gains in market access for medical<br />

devices.<br />

Views of Interested Parties<br />

Three industry associations, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the<br />

Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and the National Electrical<br />

Manufacturers Association (NEMA), each provided information regarding the U.S.-<strong>Korea</strong><br />

<strong>Free</strong> <strong>Trade</strong> <strong>Agreement</strong> in various news releases and statements. In a news release, AdvaMed<br />

states that the FTA demonstrates <strong>Korea</strong>’s commitment to increasing access for its citizens<br />

to innovative medical technologies and that it supports the establishment of the Medicines<br />

and Medical Devices Committee. 538 Further, AdvaMed added that <strong>Korea</strong> is an important<br />

market for U.S. medical technology companies, where U.S. manufacturers exported more<br />

than $670 million worth of medical technology products to <strong>Korea</strong>. 539<br />

In addition, PhRMA, along with several U.S. industry officials, stated that, to achieve the<br />

FTA’s goals, it recommends that the U.S. government closely monitor the full and effective<br />

implementation of <strong>Korea</strong>’s FTA commitments and continue to work with <strong>Korea</strong> regarding<br />

its reimbursement system. 540 Lastly, in an issue brief, the National Electrical Manufacturers<br />

Association (NEMA), which represents medical imaging and other electrical manufacturers,<br />

reports that the FTA’s market access provisions will improve sales opportunities in <strong>Korea</strong><br />

for its members. 541<br />

In its report on the FTA, the ITAC for Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and Health/Science<br />

Products & Services (ITAC 3), which represents a <strong>wide</strong> range of U.S. health-care<br />

manufacturers, states that it is pleased that remaining tariffs will be removed on medical<br />

equipment. 542 The report states that committee members believe that the pharmaceuticals and<br />

medical devices chapter contains a number of important improvements to <strong>Korea</strong>’s regulatory<br />

537 Reis, testimony before the <strong>USITC</strong>, June 20, 2007, 28; and USTR, 2007 National <strong>Trade</strong> Estimate<br />

Report on Foreign <strong>Trade</strong> Barriers, April 2007, 370.<br />

538 AdvaMed, “AdvaMed Welcomes U.S./<strong>Korea</strong> <strong>Free</strong> <strong>Trade</strong> <strong>Agreement</strong> (April 3, 2007),” 1.<br />

539 Ibid.<br />

540 U.S. industry officials, interview by Commission staff, May 16, 2007; and PhRMA, “PhRMA<br />

Statement on the U.S.-<strong>Korea</strong> <strong>Free</strong> <strong>Trade</strong> <strong>Agreement</strong> (April 3, 2007),” 1.<br />

541 NEMA, “Issue Brief: US-South <strong>Korea</strong> <strong>Free</strong> <strong>Trade</strong> <strong>Agreement</strong>,” April 2007, 1.<br />

542 ITAC (3) on Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health/Science Products and Services, Advisory Committee<br />

Report, April 24, 2007, 13.<br />

3-94

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