- Negotiations
The government of South Korea and nine members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam) signed an FTA together in May 2006, which took effect in July 2006.
Due to concerns about agriculture, particularly the deal’s provisions on rice and livestock, Thailand negotiated separate arrangements with the Korean government to join the pact in early 2009. Korea is also interested in a separate, higher level FTA with Malaysia.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Joe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0
5-Jun-2007
Bangkok Post
Thailand and South Korea will continue to work toward a bilateral free-trade agreement, according to Nitya Pibulsonggram, the minister of foreign affairs. Trade talks between the two countries were now focused on cutting tariffs for rice and fruit, two key Thai exports.
4-Jun-2007
Republic of Korea (RoK)’s firms are set to invest further into Viet Nam’s booming economy after a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations comes into effect on June 1, according to a report issued by the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
30-May-2007
A merchandise free trade agreement between South Korea and five member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will take effect on June 1, officials said Wednesday.
30-May-2007
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and South Korea is expected to increase further with the completion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Asean and South Korea this year.
9-Apr-2007
IHT
South Korea said Monday that a free trade agreement covering goods with nine of the ten members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations will take effect on June 1.
23-Nov-2006
MCOT
Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet on Wednesday reiterated that Thailand would not sign an ASEAN-Korea free trade area (FTA) agreement unless Korea agrees to liberalise its policies on agricultural products, especially rice.
16-Oct-2006
Asia Pulse
South Korea plans to introduce special safeguard measures to protect local companies from import surges that may occur once its free trade pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) goes into effect, the government said Monday.
26-Aug-2006
Thailand, the sole Asean country yet to sign the grouping’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea, hopes to resume negotiations with Seoul before the Asean Summit in Cebu in December.
25-Aug-2006
ASEAN countries agreed to accept South Korea’s request to recognize some products from a North Korean industrial park as South Korean as part of their plan for a free trade pact, officials here said Thursday.
24-Aug-2006
Thailand and South Korea failed Thursday to reach an agreement in negotiations into the issue of rice trade between the two nations, impeding the implementation of a regional trade pact between Southeast Asia and Seoul.