- Negotiations
The government of South Korea has concluded, or is pursuing negotiations for, a number of bilateral free trade and investment agreements. Korean social movements have been mobilizing in opposition to these ever since the Korea-Chile FTA was proposed. So far, South Korea has signed deals with Chile (2004), EFTA (2004), Singapore (2005), ASEAN (2007) the US (2007, ratified in 2011), Peru (2011) and Turkey (2012). Talks are under way with Canada, China, Mexico, India, the EU and, technically speaking, Japan. Negotiations with Colombia have stalled over Colombia’s demands for access for better terms for its fruit and flower exports than what Korea gives Chile and Peru. Seoul is also looking to open discussions with Mercosur, Malaysia, Mexico and possibly Israel.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Joe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0
10-Jan-2012
President Lee Myung-bak agreed to begin the necessary "domestic procedures" for opening formal negotiations on a South Korea-China free trade agreement during a summit meeting Monday afternoon with Chinese president Hu Jintao at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
9-Jan-2012
Yonhap
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao that Seoul will soon begin domestic procedures for the start of formal negotiations with Beijing on forging a bilateral free trade agreement, a presidential official said Monday.
2-Jan-2012
South Korea will expand its support for the fishery and agricultural sectors to ease their losses from a massive influx of outside products under free trade agreements (FTAs), the finance ministry said Monday.
25-Nov-2011
Chosun Ilbo
Seoul and Beijing hope to start bilateral free trade talks in January, according to the Chosun Ilbo. They already agree to keep out sensitive items like agricultural produce.
17-Oct-2011
ISRIA
The two countries engaged in intensive discussion on outstanding issues in the areas of trade in goods, trade remedies, intellectual property rights, investment, rules of origin, cooperation, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
4-Oct-2011
Korea Herald
The Korea Federation of Retail Organizations plans to hold a nationwide rally at the end of this month to call for protection measures related to the free trade pacts with the European Union and the United States.
19-Aug-2011
The government will set aside a total of 22.1 trillion won (US$20.5 billion) to help local farmers and fishing households who could get hurt by cheaper foreign products.
14-Aug-2011
Korea and China are considering starting negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon said.
28-Jul-2011
The free trade accord between South Korea and Peru will take effect on Aug. 1, paving the way for the two countries’ trade and investment to increase sharply, Seoul’s trade ministry said Wednesday.
26-Jul-2011
A former Peruvian minister for commercial affairs said the free trade pact signed between her country and South Korea will give Korean companies greater leverage in promoting their products to consumers in the South American state. The trade accord is to take effect Aug. 1
Links
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KoPA is a coalition of around 50 NGOs, social movement organizations, political parties, peasant organizations and trade unions working, among other things, to stop bilateral and regional free trade agreements and the WTO.
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