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  1. Negotiations

EU-Korea


In May 2007, the European Union and South Korea started negotiating a bilateral free trade agreement. It took effect on 1 July 2011.

This deal is part of the EU’s post-2006 "Global Europe" strategy to boost the competitiveness of EU corporations in the world by securing deeper commitments to neoliberal policies from trading partners, including expanded rights for European transnationals. In Korea, the European Union is trying to win equal, if not better, footing against US firms after the conclusion of the US-Korea FTA. (The EU makes stronger demands than the US on Korea in the areas of intellectual property, services, competition policy and environmental standards.)

Social movements from both sides mobilised against the deal’s potential impacts. One flashpoint of concern is for Korea’s agricultural sector, where pig farmers in particular are expected to suffer from an influx of subsidised EU pork as a result of this deal.

last update: May 2012
photo: European External Action Service - EEAS/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

One man protests against FTA agreement
17-Oct-2007     China Daily
A farmer carries a model pig during his one-man protest in front of the hotel where South Korean-EU free trade talks are being held in Seoul
Korea, EU open 4th round of free trade talks
15-Oct-2007     Korea.net
The EU is demanding that Korea match reductions on beef and car-import tariffs that it granted the US in June.
This is the way some agreements should end
24-Sep-2007     IPS
Elaborate funeral rituals were performed in central Brussels over the past week to show how a planned free trade accord between the European Union and the Korean government should, in the view of anti-poverty campaigners, be buried.
European and Korean social movements and civil society unite against the ‘Global Europe' strategy and the South Korea-EU FTA
21-Sep-2007    
On the occasion of the 3rd round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between South Korea and the EU taking place from 17th till 21st September in Brussels, Belgium, members of the Korean Alliance against Korea-EU FTA (KoA) and members from social movements and civil society organisations from Europe have come together to join forces and struggle together against the Global Europe strategy and the Korea-EU FTA.
Joint EU-Korea business statement
21-Sep-2007    
From the Korea FTA Industry Alliance and BUSINESSEUROPE
EU hardens stance in trade talks with Korea
20-Sep-2007     Chosun Ilbo
Free trade talks between Korea and the EU have hit an unexpected snag after the EU turned from a generous negotiating partner in the first two rounds into a stubborn, picky one in the third round.
Korea-EU FTA: Delegates need to maintain unitary stance for negotiations
20-Sep-2007     Korea Times
A sudden influx of European pork will lead to Korea's livestock industry crumbling.
South Korea, EU to hold 3rd round of free trade talks in Brussels
14-Sep-2007     Yonhap
South Korean officials say they hope to reach a deal by the end of this year.
Korea to send draft proposal on FTA with EU
27-Aug-2007     Chosun Ilbo
It will specify when and how much Korea is willing to open its agricultural sector, the most sensitive area in free trade talks.
BusinessEurope position on the EU-Korea free-trade agreement
25-Jul-2007    
BUSINESSEUROPE would like to see an agreement based on full coverage, full reciprocity and effective market access for industrial goods, ambitious services liberalisation of as many sectors as possible, strong rules to foster and protect investments, and strong rules on trade facilitation, competition and public procurement.

Referenced sites

EU-Korea FTA SIA

The EU-Korea FTA Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) is intended to produce studies in order to provide a deeper understanding of the sustainability...