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Korea

Big businesses rap US for call on Chaebol control
7-Sep-2006
The Federation of Korean Industries, Korea’s biggest business lobby group, has raised its voice against the United States’ demand for stricter rules on chaebols or family-run conglomerates in the free trade agreement talks between the two countries.
S Korea-US FTA talks open in Seattle amid protests
7-Sep-2006
Free trade negotiators from South Korea and the United States ended the first day of talks Wednesday, sending mixed signals that they achieved "some progress" but also faced "some challenges."
Trade-talk foes hit the streets
7-Sep-2006
Korean workers and farmers take the front line of a demonstration Wednesday against U.S. trade talks with South Korea. The midday march briefly stopped downtown traffic as demonstrators laid down in the streets around Westlake Park.
Lawmakers launch lawsuit against South Korea-U.S. FTA talks
7-Sep-2006
A group of 23 South Korean lawmakers on Thursday filed a suit with South Korea’s Constitutional Court, claiming that President Roh Moo-hyun’s administration’s move to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. is unconstitutional.
Another bad backroom deal
7-Sep-2006
We’ve all been witness to the Bush administration’s half-truths. Now, it’s the same old song and dance with the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS-FTA) talks that are taking place in Seattle this week. While the administration boisterously makes claims about the wonders of free-trade agreements, the real story behind the rhetoric is: undemocratic, unfair and unconscionable.
US-Korea FTA talks bogging down
7-Sep-2006
During the third round of FTA negotiations between Korea and the US that started on September 6, the US required that trade related laws including fair trade laws should be strictly applied to the Korean companies including large conglomerates (known as Chae-bol) and this be clearly stated in an FTA agreement.
US wants stern regulations on S Korean conglomerates
7-Sep-2006
The United States was confirmed to have asked South Korea to include regulations on conglomerates in their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
US wants Korea to throw broadcasting open wide
6-Sep-2006
The US wants Korea to open 11 service sectors including broadcasting and telecommunications, home delivery, legal and accounting services. In a third round of bilateral free-trade negotiations, the service sector is tipped to be the main stumbling block since Seoul has a mind to give in to few US demands except letting some US law firms operate here and some others.
Trade talk protesters promise no violence
6-Sep-2006
Mention "Seattle" and "trade talks" in the same sentence and you’ll send a chill through residents who remember December 1999, when destructive riots broke out during the World Trade Organization meeting.
Gov’t needs to open up about free trade deal
6-Sep-2006
South Korea and the United States will launch the third round of free trade negotiations in Seattle beginning September 6. Unlike the first and second rounds, both are expected to draw up detailed measures on market opening.
US, South Korea to begin third round of free-trade talks
6-Sep-2006
The US and South Korea begin a third round of free-trade talks on Wednesday, hoping to make progress toward an accord that could be the biggest of its kind for the US since the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1993.
The real understanding of the KorUS FTA
6-Sep-2006 KoA
Korean Alliance against the KorUS FTA (KoA) published a brief on the KorUS FTA. It offers a real understanding of the KorUS FTA.
Korea-US FTA and rush to neoliberalism
6-Sep-2006 KoA
This essay mainly will identify what is problematic in the negotiation process, its structural import and a negative legacy to be left us from now onwards.
American critics blast S Korean-US trade talks
5-Sep-2006 Asia Pulse
American opponents of a proposed South Korean-US free trade accord on Monday accused the deal of devastating the lives of workers in both countries, while benefiting only big businesses.
South Korea reiterates rice should be excluded from free trade talks with US
5-Sep-2006 Hankyoreh
South Korea insisted Monday its rice market should be exempt from a proposed free trade agreement with the United States, inviting a showdown on one of the most sensitive areas of talks between the economic powerhouses.
Korean FTA delegates leave for the US
4-Sep-2006
Korean delegates to Korea-US free trade negotiations are leaving for the US city of Seattle on Monday afternoon for the third round of negotiations.
Toughest issues remain in South Korea-U.S. free trade talks
4-Sep-2006
Rough sailing is anticipated in free trade agreement talks with the United States that resume in Seattle this week, with rice and other sensitive issues expected to be taken up for the first time, South Korean officials said Sunday.
Seattle police to ask FTA protesters for calm
4-Sep-2006
The chief of Seattle’s police department will meet South Korean media on Tuesday to ask protesters planning demonstrations over free trade talks this week to refrain from violence.
A fair shake: South Korean activists seek “mini-WTO protest” at trade talks
4-Sep-2006 Real Change
The mass protests that took place against the World Trade Organization in 1999 might stop some nations from scheduling a round of free-trade talks in Seattle. But not South Korea.
Eli Lilly’s CEO calls for Japan-US Economic Integration Agreement
31-Aug-2006 Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company chairman and CEO, Sidney Taurel, today made the case for a Japan-US Economic Integration Agreement, and urged private groups to help lay the groundwork for such a free-trade deal. He also expressed optimism regarding a favorable conclusion of the US-Korea negotiations over a free-trade agreement, arguing that "both sides understand the symbolic as well as the practical benefits of what they are trying to accomplish."