- 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
4-Oct-2023
Yonhap
South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have launched formal negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement, Seoul’s industry ministry said.
11-Sep-2023
Malaya Business Insight
Following the signing last week of the free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, the Philippines is readying similar deals with other countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union (EU) and through Asean with Canada.
8-Sep-2023
Yonhap
South Korean Prime Minister welcomed the signing of a bilateral investment treaty aimed at promoting mutual investments between the two countries.
5-Sep-2023
Yonhap News Agency
Guatemala will join a free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and a group of Central American nations, Seoul’s trade ministry said. Guatemala was initially among dialogue partners for the FTA, but it had stepped out during negotiations amid differences on tariff and country of origin related rules.
25-Aug-2023
Korea Times
Korea is pushing to sign a bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Thailand, Pakistan, Serbia, and the Dominican Republic, and held a public hearing session in Seoul.
10-Aug-2023
Business World
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said South Korea has declared its readiness to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines, which is still working on domestic approval processes which could take two months.
9-Jun-2023
Pulse
South Korea has officially acceded to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, becoming the first member country outside of its founding partners, Seoul’s Trade Ministry said.
24-May-2023
Business Korea
The negotiations will cover all areas of the two nations’ FTA, including goods, cooperation, trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, gender equality, labor, and the environment.
16-May-2023
Yonhap News Agency
South Korea and Georgia shared the consensus on seeking an economic partnership agreement (EPA) to boost bilateral ties, the finance ministry said.
10-May-2023
Yonhap
The top diplomats of South Korea and Mexico held talks to discuss the resumption of a bilateral free trade agreement negotiation.
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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