- 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
8-Jul-2009
Joong Ang Daily
Korea and a group of six oil-producing Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, will hold a third round of free trade negotiations in Seoul this week, the trade ministry said yesterday.
30-Jun-2009
Yonhap
South Korea and Japan will hold a working-level meeting this week to look into ways to resume stalled negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), Seoul’s trade ministry said Tuesday.
29-Jun-2009
Yonhap
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Sunday called for the early conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) between their countries, hoping increased cooperation will help them overcome the current global economic crisis.
25-Jun-2009
Korea Herald
The United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are all vying for Korea’s beef market through FTAs, with Australia currently gaining ground.
24-Jun-2009
Korea Herald
Foreign ministers from Korea and India agreed on Tuesday to expedite a bilateral free trade agreement between the two countries.
14-May-2009
AFP
South Korea and Australia have agreed to start talks next week on forging a free trade agreement (FTA), the foreign ministry in Seoul said Wednesday.
29-Mar-2009
On Wednesday, Korea and Chile will be celebrating the 5th anniversary since they signed the free trade agreement.
15-Mar-2009
Xinhua
South Korea and Peru will start their first round of free trade negotiations in Seoul next week, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Friday.
4-Mar-2009
TVNZ
South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak Lee will announce the start of formal negotiations towards a free trade agreement with Australia in Canberra on Thursday.
20-Feb-2009
Xinhua
South Korea’s chief free trade negotiator said free trade is essential to break through the current economic slump, South Korea’s Korea Herald said Friday.
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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