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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

See also
Seoul, Beijing to hold 15th round of FTA follow-up talks on services
25-Jun-2026     Yonhap News Agency
South Korea and China kicked off a new round of follow-up negotiations on services and investment under their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), eliminating tariffs on a wide range of products.
S. Korea, Morocco to push for launch of CEPA talks for deeper economic cooperation
15-Jun-2026     Yonhap News Agency
South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and his Moroccan counterpart, Omar Hejira, have agreed to swiftly begin negotiations for a bilateral CEPA. Unlike a standard free trade agreement, this pact will place a broader emphasis on economic exchanges, securing a stable supply chain for critical battery minerals, and industrial cooperation.
Korea, Cambodia vow to expand economic ties building on FTA
15-Jun-2026     The Korea Times
South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol met in Seoul to discuss expanding bilateral economic ties under their 2022 Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Mexico, South Korea ditch FTA talks, pursue trade framework
8-Jun-2026     Mexico Business News
Mexico and South Korea signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration to establish a formal trade and investment framework, pausing long-stalled FTA negotiations to focus on modernizing commercial ties. The agreement aims to reduce the impact of recent Mexican tariffs on Korean manufacturers and better position both nations ahead of the upcoming USMCA review.
S. Korea strikes free trade deal with Serbia, first with Balkan nation
5-Jun-2026     Yonhap News Agency
South Korea and Serbia have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking South Korea's first trade pact with a Balkan nation. The agreement will eliminate tariffs on 90% of traded goods, boosting South Korea's exports of chips and electric vehicles while securing its supply of critical materials like lithium and cobalt.
Trade minister to visit Mexico next week to expand outreach for FTA negotiations
11-May-2026     Yonhap
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo he will visit Mexico next week as part of a concerted effort to broaden outreach for the resumption of free trade agreement negotiations between South Korea and Mexico.
S. Korea, Pakistan begin 1st round of CEPA negotiations
4-May-2026     Yoonhap News Agency
The first round of negotiations for a South Korea–Pakistan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has begun, with officials from both countries holding virtual talks to expand trade and investment in key sectors like economic cooperation, investment, intellectual property, and trade remedies.
Trade minister meets Mexican ambassador to discuss FTA talks, tariff concerns
30-Apr-2026     The Korea Times
Yeo Han-koo, Korea's trade minister, met with Carlos Penafiel Soto, Mexico's ambassador to Korea, to discuss ways to expand economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
S. Korea to expand FTA with emerging markets to diversify supply chains: finance chief
14-Apr-2026     Yonhap
South Korea aims to expand its free trade agreement network with emerging markets, such as Latin America and Africa, in its latest effort to diversify supply chains.
S. Korea-UAE CEPA to take effect May 1
7-Apr-2026     KBS
South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to implement their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on May 1.

Referenced sites

Korean People's Action against FTA and WTO (KoPA)

KoPA is a coalition of around 50 NGOs, social movement organizations, political parties, peasant organizations and trade unions working, among other things, ...

Occupy FTA