- 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
6-Nov-2009
The governing and opposition parties have agreed to ratify a trade agreement with India at a plenary National Assembly session today, a parliamentary leader said Thursday.
28-Sep-2009
A parliamentary committee on Monday approved a comprehensive trade agreement with India that would eliminate or reduce tariffs on over 4,400 Korean products exported to the Asian nation, Yonhap news reported.
12-Sep-2009
South Korea and New Zealand have agreed to make more efforts on the ongoing bilateral free trade negotiations to produce tangible results, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Saturday.
3-Sep-2009
South Korea and Colombia agreed Thursday to begin talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) within the year, Seoul’s foreign ministry said after a meeting between their foreign ministers here.
3-Sep-2009
Korea Times
Korea’s trade deficit with a four-European nation economic block has surged by four-fold since the signing of a free trade agreement three years ago, with its imports growing at a much faster pace than exports.
1-Sep-2009
Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde said Tuesday his government hopes to conclude free trade agreement (FTA) talks with South Korea before November.
10-Aug-2009
Korea Times
India should be used as a beachhead for Korea in an effort to provide a deeper penetration for its goods going into Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the Samsung Economic Research Institute argues.
7-Aug-2009
AFP
South Korea and India Friday signed a pact to scrap or reduce most trade tariffs over the next decade, giving Seoul a head start over its rivals in a market of 1.1 billion people.
3-Aug-2009
Korea Herald
Investments in India for Korean companies will become easier once the two trading partners ratify their bilateral free trade agreement, Seoul’s Trade Ministry said yesterday.
19-Jul-2009
Chosun Ilbo
After concluding free trade talks with the European Union, Korea is eyeing the Gulf Cooperation Council as its next FTA partner
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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