bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Korea

Korea now plans to expand free trade aggressively
1-Feb-2006 JoongAng Daily
After reaching free trade agreements with relatively small economies such as Chile and Singapore, Korea is looking to expand its horizons as it prepares to launch free trade negotiations with two of the world’s leading economies.
S. Korea-Singapore FTA to take effect in March
1-Feb-2006 Xinhua
South Korea and Singapore agreed to begin implementation of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on March 2, according to South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Tuesday.
FTA talks with Washington need firm leadership
29-Jan-2006
Korea has agreed to slash a screen quota reserving time in the theaters for domestic films to 73 days a year as requested by Washington, thus removing the last hurdle to free trade negotiations with the U.S. The government will reportedly announce the start date for the FTA talks early next month.
India for pan-Asian trade agreement
28-Jan-2006 Financial Express
India on Friday expressed its desire for eventually expanding the proposed comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (Ceca) with Asean to a pan-Asian pact covering six more countries including Japan, China, Korea, Australia and New Zealand, aiming at a common economic community in East Asia.
Korea-US FTA talks to start in May
27-Jan-2006
"It is highly likely that the actual formal negotiation between Korea and the U.S. would begin in May, even though the official announcement is to be made in mid-February,’’ Korea International Trade Association (KITA) FTA Team head Jeong Jae-hwa said.
US, Korea inch closer to launch FTA
27-Jan-2006
South Korea inched closer to launching a free trade deal with the United States Thursday after it agreed to reduce restrictions of its domestic film screenings a pivotal blockade in launching negotiations.
Seoul will cut protection for domestic film industry by 50%
26-Jan-2006
Hollywood will get greater access to South Korea’s movie market after the government said Thursday that it would cut in half the quota of homegrown films that must be shown in the country’s cinemas.
S. Korea may announce start of FTA talks with US on Feb. 2
26-Jan-2006 Asia Pulse
South Korea is expected to announce the start of free trade negotiations with the United States on February 2, a government source said Thursday.
Korea to halve screen quota
26-Jan-2006
South Korea on Thursday decided to halve its 40-year-old screen quota, the mandatory period for theaters to show domestic films a year, to 73 days to clear the way for its free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.
US, South Korea near free-trade talks
26-Jan-2006
The United States and South Korea are very close to launching negotiations for a free-trade agreement, which would be the most economically significant free-trade pact for Washington since the North American Free Trade Agreement, according to people familiar with the matter.
S Korea to cut screen quota to boost FTA talks with US
26-Jan-2006
South Korea said it would reduce by half its screen quota for domestically produced films, in a move aimed at facilitating talks with the United States on a free trade agreement (FTA).
Indian president makes first-ever state visit to Korea
24-Jan-2006
Indian President Abdul Kalam will make a four-day visit to Korea from Feb. 6 through 9 for a summit with Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
United States planning more free-trade negotiations in 2006
24-Jan-2006 Washington File
The Bush administration hopes to initiate more free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in 2006, possibly with South Korea and Malaysia, US Trade Representative Rob Portman says.
Time to put a US-South Korea free trade agreement on the fast-track agenda
23-Jan-2006 Heritage Foundation
A memo from the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation.
USTR cites needs for agricultural tariff cuts in Korea
23-Jan-2006 Yonhap
US Trade Representative Rob Portman said South Korean farmers’ protests are not expected to affect efforts to start negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA).
New Australian envoy looking ahead to FTA deal
22-Jan-2006
The new Australian Ambassador’s third posting in Korea might be the charm that helps bring Australia-Korea trade relations to its zenith.
Value pact over quota
22-Jan-2006
Work on talks for a free trade pact between Korea and the United States has been accelerating since President Roh Moo-hyun’s New Year’s address. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade recently announced it would hold a public hearing early next month to gather opinions on such a pact. Accordingly, the government is likely to soon declare the start of negotiations with Washington.
Free trade and movies
22-Jan-2006
The government is hurrying to conclude a free trade agreement with the United States before June 2007 at the latest. It appears natural for Korea to facilitate the FTA process with America, the world’s largest economy and Seoul’s greatest ally. The biggest stumbling block is the screen quota, a protective device for the domestic film industry, or so says Washington.
Korea-US trade talks could start soon
21-Jan-2006 donga.com
Trade Minister Kim Hyun-jong said in a news conference Friday, “It remains to be seen whether the upcoming international economic ministers’ meeting scheduled for February 2 will decide to begin Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.” Current Korean FTA regulations stipulate that an international economic ministers’ meeting shall make decisions on whether to start FTA negotiations after taking public opinion into consideration at a public hearing.
Korea seeks screen quota reduction
20-Jan-2006
The government Friday launched a campaign to reduce the screen quota in exchange for starting bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the United States.