- 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
16-Jul-2005
For Korea which relies heavily on external markets, forging bilateral free trade pacts with its trading partners is not an option but a must. Today, regional economic blocs, which have emerged in parallel with the globalization trend, penalize a country that has no bilateral trade deals with them.
13-Jul-2005
Yonhap
South Korea and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday, a deal that could give domestic companies a beachhead in the European market, the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said.
28-Jun-2005
Financial Times
Eighteen months of talks over a proposed bilateral trade agreement between Japan and South Korea are on the verge of collapse because Japan’s Agriculture Ministry has blocked meaningful dialogue on trade in farm and marine products, a South Korean diplomat said yesterday.
24-Jun-2005
Yonhap
South Korea and South Africa will hold talks next week in Pretoria to discuss a variety of issues, including the possible signing of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), South Korean officials said Thursday.
6-Jun-2005
Seoul on Friday decided to support workers and businesses that fall victim to trade liberalization, even as APEC ministers in Jeju pledged to back a formula that would drastically slash tariffs in non-agricultural sectors.
5-Jun-2005
Korea made progress in talks for inking a free trade agreement with the four countries of the European Free Trade Association, the government said yesterday.
5-Jun-2005
Asia Times
Japan needs to allow South Korean products greater access to its agricultural and fisheries markets in an effort to advance stalled bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) talks, South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said on Friday.
19-May-2005
KoPA
The KSFTA was promoted by Korea under two main strategies. One is to use Singapore as a bridge to gain more market access in Southeast Asia and strive further towards regional integration, and the other is to use external ‘stimulus’ from Singapore to “strengthen competitiveness” (restructuring and liberalization) of the services industry.....
28-Apr-2005
Not too long ago, the entire country and the National Assembly agonized over the ratification of Korea-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Its final National Assembly passage was delayed from the strong opposition of many people, particularly from farmers. It is remarkable to learn that the Korean government is now either negotiating or planning to negotiate with as many as 50 countries to complete their FTAs by 2007.
11-Apr-2005
Korea Times
Korea and the European Free Trade Association have tentatively agreed that they will sign the final free trade agreement (FTA) in July, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Sunday.
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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