- 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
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
9-Aug-2007
Hankyoreh
A private think-tank claims that South and North Korea should work on signing a free trade pact to prompt changes in the communist country and eventually achieve consolidation of the two divided Koreas.
24-Jul-2007
Chosun Ilbo
Korea has agreed with Russia to launch study group talks on a bilateral free trade agreement in September.
23-May-2007
Chosun Ilbo
Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Seoul’s signing of a free-trade pact with Beijing is inevitable but the timing must be right.
21-May-2007
Yonhap
South Korea’s top business organization on Monday urged the government to swiftly start free trade talks with Australia, saying a deal would be in the interest of both sides.
16-May-2007
Yonhap
South Korea and Australia will begin a joint study this year to explore a free trade agreement, a senior trade official said Wednesday.
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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