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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

S. Korea to make quick decision on free trade talks with China
25-Apr-2007
South Korea will quickly decide whether or not to launch negotiations for free trade agreements (FTA) with China, Australia and Gulf states, the nation’s top economic policymaker said Wednesday.
Iran, S.Korea to pursue joint trade
9-Apr-2007
Iran and South Korea have signed an agreement to create an exploratory committee aimed at boosting trade and investment between both countries.
FTA fever hits Korea, as negotiations on multiple trade deals underway
6-Apr-2007
As official talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the U.S. have been completed, attention is focused on possible trade negotiations between Korea and other nations, such as the European Union and China.
South Korea and India seek to cement closer economic partnership
5-Apr-2007 Playfuls
South Korea and India agreed to work towards sealing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement by the end of this year, the Seoul Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
S Korea’s finance minister hints at FTA talks with China
4-Apr-2007 Yonhap
South Korea’s finance minister said Wednesday that the government may push to strike a free trade agreement (FTA) with China after it wraps up negotiations with the European Union (EU).
Roh proposes free trade talks with Arab Gulf nations
25-Mar-2007 Hankyoreh
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday unveiled an initiative for future cooperation between South Korea and the Middle East, proposing a free trade agreement (FTA) with member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Labor party leader on hunger strike against free trade agreement with US
23-Mar-2007 Yonhap
A weary yet defiant looking Korean labor party leader has been a fixture in front of the president’s office for more than two weeks, on a hunger strike against South Korea’s imminent free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. "FTA, I believe, only stands for ’For The Americans’," Moon Sung-hyun said.
S Korea mulls free trade deal with Gulf states
31-Jan-2007 Times of Oman
South Korea is actively considering forging a free trade agreement with six Gulf nations, its top economic official said Wednesday.
EU to focus on regulatory issues in FTA with South Korea
27-Jan-2007 Yonhap
The European Union will focus on regulatory issues in negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea that could be completed in less than two years from the launch of talks, its trade official said Friday.
$1 million needed to offset FTA damages: ministry
2-Jan-2007 Hankyoreh
Korea’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy requested a budget of 1 billion won (US$1 million) to the National Assembly on January 1, saying that it needed extra funds to offset the harsher effects of FTAs, estimating 13,000 firms and 100,000 workers would be affected.