Obama returned calls from nine heads of state

World Tribune —

SEOUL — The United States president-elect Barack Obama got many congratulatory calls from heads of state this week.

Among the calls he returned was one from South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak who is concerned about the Korea-U.S. free-trade agreement (FTA). The other return calls were made to the leaders of Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan and Mexico.

Obama, during his campaign, strongly opposed the FTA as a threat to Michigan motor vehicle workers. Obama's position puts him at direct odds with South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak, who is pressing hard for approval of the deal by South Korea's fractious National Assembly.

[Continue reading]