- 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
30-Jun-2010
South Korea is seeking to boost its partnership with Panama, a small Central American country that has strong ties with the United States, politically and economically, and explore the possibility of signing free trade agreements with regional players with the nation’s help.
30-Jun-2010
South Korea and Panama agreed Monday to forge a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) at an early date and expand economic partnership.
18-Jun-2010
Arirang
An OECD report shows that as of end May, Korea had 106 international investment agreements, most being bilateral deals.This puts Korea in a tie with the United States
17-Jun-2010
South Korea and Colombia began Monday their third round of free trade negotiations in Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported the trade ministry as saying.
26-May-2010
Negotiations on a Korea-Peru free trade agreement (FTA) could be finalized by November, a development that would further enhance bilateral ties and precede a possible state visit by Peruvian President Alan Garcia, Peru’s vice foreign minister said Wednesday.
27-Apr-2010
Korea and Turkey started their first round of free trade negotiations in the Turkish capital Ankara on Monday to set the framework for a bilateral trade deal.
15-Apr-2010
Xinhua
South Korea will probe into the feasibility of the free trade agreement (FTA) with China, examining how a pact may boost up the country’s overall competitiveness, local media reported Thursday.
23-Mar-2010
Arirang
The governments of Korea and Vietnam plan to launch a joint committee to study the possibility of an FTA with the first meeting scheduled for early May in Seoul.
18-Mar-2010
Korea’s Ministry of Justice has recently proposed a revision of the commercial law provisions, including the introduction of a "poison pill," which is one of the common tools to enable local firms to defend themselves against hostile takeovers. How will this work in the context of Korea’s FTAs?
15-Mar-2010
A fourth round of free trade negotiations between Korea and Australia is scheduled to open in Seoul, Monday.
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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