- 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-Oct-2004
GLW
Korean trade union and social organisations have worked together in recent months to stop the Japan-Korea FTA, arguing that it will result in the abolition of more regulations protecting workers rights, and more privatisation of public services. They also say the average citizens’ access to medical treatment and drugs will also be undermined by the FTA’s excuse to “protect” intellectual property rights.
19-Oct-2004
Korea Times
Korea’s four major business organizations have urged the government to enact a special law ahead of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan in order to protect domestic companies from negative effects of the pact.
13-Oct-2004
Asia Pulse
South Korea will hold a second round of joint studies on a free trade agreement this week in with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which is made up of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
29-Sep-2004
South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun will meet with Latin American leaders next months to seeka free trade agreement, local press reported Tuesday.
28-Sep-2004
Asia Pulse
Visiting South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said on Friday it is "more desirable" to seek free trade agreements (FTAs) with many countries at the same time than to pursue bilateral agreements one at a time.
9-Sep-2004
The nation’s trade deficit with Chile widened to $528 million in the five months since a free trade agreement (FTA) took effect on April 1.
24-Aug-2004
KL and Seoul to study possibility of free trade pact
Visiting Malaysian Premier also discusses North Korea, education, tourism and business with South Korean leader.
23-Aug-2004
South Korea and the four-member European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are expected to begin talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) from early next year, according to a top government official.
2-Aug-2004
Seoul film industry rallies to keep quota
A star-studded film about two brothers caught on opposite sides of the Korean War broke all box-office records here this year.
26-May-2004
In contrast to the recent push for adopting a free trade agreement (FTA) with Chile, leading business organizations, including the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and Korea Federation of Small Business (KFSB), take a cautious approach to back ongoing FTA talks with Japan.
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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