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Canada-Korea

Canada and South Korea are currently negotiating an FTA. The talks began in July 2005 but are yet to be concluded.
Both countries are aiming for a comprehensive agreement, with the Canadian government’s sights set on increasing food and forestry exports to Korea. But the implications for Canada are huge. Canada currently imports more cars than it exports and a deal with Seoul — headquarters of KIA, Hyundai and Daewoo (GM) — could gut Canada’s industry and with it 15,000 jobs. Korean farmers, labour groups and consumers, for their part, expect negative impacts on Korean food and agriculture. This includes strong potential problems around beef (numerous outbreaks of mad cow disease have already occurred in Canada) and barley.

last update: May 2012 | logo from the Canadian Auto Workers Local 200


South Korea bans Canadian beef exports in light of BSE
South Korea says it’s banning imports of Canadian beef after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or “mad cow disease,” was found on a northern Alberta farm earlier this week, despite reassurances from Canada’s agriculture minister the case would not impact Canadian beef trade.
Korea, Canada ink FTA
Korea and Canada officially sign a free trade agreement on Monday according to terms agreed in March after nine years of tough negotiations.
Canadian auto industry denounces free trade agreement
A union representing about 3,000 workers at the Chrysler Group in Brampton is saying a just-announced free trade agreement between Canada and South Korea poses a “serious threat” to the Canadian auto industry.
S.Korea, Canada wrap up free-trade deal
South Korea and Canada concluded a free-trade agreement Tuesday, wrapping up a negotiating process that began nine years ago and focused on barriers in the auto and agriculture sectors.
Stephen Harper heads to South Korea to ink long-awaited free-trade pact
Prime Minister Stephen Harper departed Sunday for South Korea, widely expected to complete another long round of free-trade negotiations that his critics were denouncing as secretive and potentially bad for Canadian workers.
Exporters ramp up push for S. Korea trade pact
A wide array of manufacturing groups and companies is urging the federal government to reach a free-trade agreement with South Korea, warning Canada is being beaten by rivals in the race to do business with the fast-growing country.
Auto industry fights Canada-Korea free-trade deal
A Canada-Korea trade deal looks like a winner for Canadian agribusiness, but the auto industry is making a last-ditch push to head off the agreement.
Canada-South Korea free trade pact moving closer
Canada and South Korea are moving closer to a long-delayed free trade deal amid stiff resistance from Canadian-based auto makers.
Korea-Canada free trade: The thaw begins
A number of obstacles to a free trade agreement remain on both sides, but there is growing incentive to overcome them.
Auto industry an unlikely roadblock in Ottawa’s ambitious free-trade talks
Agriculture has long been the bane of Canadian trade negotiators. No trade deal gets done without crossing farmers first.