- 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
3-Jul-2008
MySinchew
South Korea and the Gulf Cooperation Council will hold their first round of talks for a free-trade agreement in Seoul next week, seeking to establish a basic approach for negotiating the envisioned deal
27-May-2008
Korea Times
President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed Tuesday to forge a "strategic partnership" between the two countries. The free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Korea and China will be sought after joint research.
7-May-2008
The top Australian diplomat said Wednesday his country supports President Lee Myung-bak’s policy toward North Korea focused on dismantling its nuclear weapons program before providing economic aid. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith also expressed hope that the two nations will sign a free trade agreement as a way for boosting bilateral ties.
21-Apr-2008
Bloomberg
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda failed to agree on resuming negotiations for a free-trade agreement when they met today in Tokyo for their first official summit.
20-Mar-2008
Korea is mulling over including agricultural investment in free trade agreements with countries like China and Australia that export agricultural products.
8-Jan-2008
Korea.net
Korea is considering a free trade pact with the the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to expand cooperative ties with resource-rich countries
25-Dec-2007
Korea Times
Korea’s stalled and deadlocked free trade talks with Japan might see a breakthrough under the economic stewardship of President-elect, and former Hyundai CEO, Lee Myung-bak.
24-Dec-2007
Korea Times
South Korea is holding back on farm products
12-Dec-2007
EE Times
South Korea’s electronics industry is seeking to reduce its dependence on rival and chief supplier Japan while diversifying beyond its chip-manufacturing base to develop fresh intellectual property and new product categories.
11-Dec-2007
Asia Pulse
South Korea and Mexico were at odds over safeguards for farm goods at their first free trade agreement talks, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said 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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