- 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
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.
27-Apr-2023
The Korea Herald
South Korea and Serbia have reached a tentative deal to sign a bilateral investment treaty aimed at promoting mutual investments between the two countries.
7-Apr-2023
Yonhap
South Korea will make efforts to sign a free trade agreement for a greater market opening and economic cooperation.
3-Apr-2023
The Korea Times
Korea and Ecuador began their ninth round of talks on the establishment of a bilateral free trade deal.
28-Feb-2023
Energy News
South Korea is continuing negotiations on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council to enhance its energy security and improve the economics of importing sour crude from the Middle East.
Links
-
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.
-