- 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
5-Nov-2007
Chosun Ilbo
A free trade agreement with the South American trade bloc Mercosur could increase Korea’s gross domestic product by up to two percent, a study by the two sides has found. The Foreign Ministry said the joint FTA study was adopted at a Korea-Mercosur policy meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay late last month.
29-Oct-2007
KOIS
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Seoul stressed the need to reflect the concerns of local farmers in any future free trade agreement (FTA) with China at preliminary discussions held in Weihai last week.
22-Oct-2007
AFP
South Korea and China will hold a third round of preliminary talks this week on a possible free trade agreement, the foreign ministry said Monday.
20-Oct-2007
Korea Times
Korean government officials are trying to downplay concerns by anti-globalization and anti-FTA protesters including farmers that the Korea-US trade deal may lead to subjugation of the Korean economy to the United States. But a recent IMF report says that technology and foreign investment are worsening income inequality around the world.
17-Sep-2007
Yonhap
South Korea is ready to accelerate its efforts to sign free trade agreements with Mexico and Mercosur, the country’s top economic policymaker said Monday.
15-Sep-2007
Yonhap
South Korea has a two-track free trade promotion plan aimed at winning market access in both advanced and developing economies.
11-Sep-2007
Yonhap
South Korea and Peru agreed to launch discussions on forming a bilateral free trade agreement during a summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Peruvian President Alan Garcia
11-Sep-2007
Korea Times
A year after a trade deal between Korea and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) went into effect last September, Korea’s largest trade group said that imports from the four-nation bloc hiked while exports dipped heavily.
17-Aug-2007
The Hankyoreh
South Korea is considering discussing a potential free trade agreement (FTA) with North Korea during the second summit of the leaders of the two Koreas late this month
9-Aug-2007
Korea Times
South Korea and Mexico officially have agreed to resume their negotiations for a full free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to contribute not only to economic ties but the political partnership between the two countries
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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