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  1. Negotiations

Korea

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

UAE, South Korea to launch free trade talks
14-Oct-2021 Reuters
The United Arab Emirates and South Korea on Thursday agreed to start negotiations on a bilateral trade deal targeting a broad expansion of economic ties.
Guatemala eyes joining S. Korea-Central America FTA
28-Sep-2021 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s trade ministry said it is currently under negotiations with Guatemala to invite the Central American country to a multilateral trade pact that fully went into effect this year.
S. Korea to expand FTAs with more emerging countries in S.E. Asia, Latin America
15-Sep-2021 The Korea Herald
South Korea said it plans to implement or launch negotiations for a set of new FTAs with trading counterparts from Southeast Asia and Latin America this year, as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on major economies.
South Korea preparing to join Digital Economy Partnership Agreement
8-Sep-2021 Business Korea
South Korean Trade Minister saying that South Korea would make an official announcement this month on its accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.
Korea eyes resumption of new FTA with group of Arab nations
6-Sep-2021 The Korea Times
South Korea’s trade ministry said Monday it aims to resume talks for a new free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to forge deeper economic ties with the Middle East after a hiatus of more than 10 years.
Free trade agreement with South Korea may be signed next month
4-Sep-2021 Khmer Times
A long-awaited trade deal with South Korea may be signed next month, according to the country’s ambassador to Cambodia.
S. Korea kicks off 7th round of free trade talks with Mercosur
30-Aug-2021 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea said it has launched a new round of negotiations to clinch a free trade agreement with Mercosur, South America’s leading trading bloc, as it aims to further expand its export portfolio.
S. Korea seeks to resume FTA negotiations with Mexico
26-Aug-2021 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s trade ministry said it wishes to resume free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Mexico in the near future as it aims to forge closer ties with the top economic partner in Central America.
South Korea/Mercosur round of trade talks at the end of the month
12-Aug-2021 Merco Press
South Korea wants to advance with trade negotiations with Mercosur. Discussions started back in 2018 and at the end of the month, a seventh-round is slated to take place.
S. Korea, Uzbekistan eye closer economic ties
29-Jul-2021 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s trade ministry said Thursday it plans to expand economic ties with Uzbekistan by launching new projects in a wide array of areas from ICT to the medical sector, as the COVID-19 pandemic has recently weighed down bilateral business cooperation.