President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer want substantial improvements to the U.S. free trade agreement with South Korea. However, the South Koreans are balking at any amendments or opening the deal up for any renegotiation until the cause of the trade imbalance is investigated. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Craig Uden says officials should leave KORUS as is and work on other trade priorities.

He says it took a huge effort just to get the South Korean FTA approved and since that time the U.S. beef market has been growing with South Korea.

Uden says besides keeping KORUS intact, the U.S. needs to aggressively pursue trade including renegotiation of NAFTA and getting a bilateral deal approved with Japan.

The original FTA with South Korea went into effect in 2012.