ISDS Case Map
Korea
A memo from the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation.
US Trade Representative Rob Portman said South Korean farmers' protests are not expected to affect efforts to start negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA).
The new Australian Ambassador's third posting in Korea might be the charm that helps bring Australia-Korea trade relations to its zenith.
Work on talks for a free trade pact between Korea and the United States has been accelerating since President Roh Moo-hyun's New Year's address. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade recently announced it would hold a public hearing early next month to gather opinions on such a pact. Accordingly, the government is likely to soon declare the start of negotiations with Washington.
The government is hurrying to conclude a free trade agreement with the United States before June 2007 at the latest. It appears natural for Korea to facilitate the FTA process with America, the world's largest economy and Seoul's greatest ally. The biggest stumbling block is the screen quota, a protective device for the domestic film industry, or so says Washington.
Trade Minister Kim Hyun-jong said in a news conference Friday, “It remains to be seen whether the upcoming international economic ministers' meeting scheduled for February 2 will decide to begin Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.” Current Korean FTA regulations stipulate that an international economic ministers' meeting shall make decisions on whether to start FTA negotiations after taking public opinion into consideration at a public hearing.
The government Friday launched a campaign to reduce the screen quota in exchange for starting bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the United States.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Wednesday he would push for a free-trade agreement with the United States as early as possible.
The Korea International Trade Association on Wednesday launched a web portal on the country's free trade agreements.
The Bush administration is considering free-trade negotiations with Egypt, South Korea, Malaysia, and Switzerland, the US Trade Representative's top agriculture trade negotiator said Monday.
