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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

Biz bodies urge quick parliamentary approval of FTAs
18-Sep-2015    
More than 40 South Korean business bodies urged parliament Sunday to quickly approve free trade agreements with China, Vietnam and New Zealand to help prop up Seoul's slumping exports.
S. Korea, Ecuador set to launch FTA talks
19-Aug-2015     The Korea Observer
South Korea and Ecuador will announce the start of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) next week
Korea starts FTA talks with six Central American countries
19-Jun-2015     Arirang
If sealed, Korea will be the first Asian country to have an FTA with the six Central American countries -- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama -- giving Korean products an edge over rival exporters like Japan and China.
Plan mitigates FTA fallout
9-Jun-2015    
The government has decided to earmark 1.7 trillion won ($1.53 billion) over the next 10 years to mitigate damage to local industries from free-trade agreements with China, Vietnam and New Zealand expected to take effect this year.
Gov't submits bills on ratification of new FTAs with China, Vietnam, New Zealand
5-Jun-2015    
The South Korean government said Friday that it has asked the parliament to ratify the country's bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with China that was signed earlier in the week, apparently demonstrating its firm resolution to quickly implement what it has called one of the most significant trade deals it has ever signed.
Gov't identifies damage to 9 farm goods from FTAs
22-May-2015    
Producers of nine local farm goods have suffered damage from a rise in imports due to free trade agreements, becoming eligible for government support and compensation, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday.
South Korea and Vietnam sign free trade agreement
6-May-2015     The Hankyoreh
The FTA with Vietnam is South Korea’s 15th to date, with greater levels of product liberalization than the previous FTA with the ASEAN countries (including Vietnam) that went into effect in June 2007.
S. Korea to announce start of FTA talks with Ecuador, Central America
29-Apr-2015     Yonhap
South Korea will soon announce the start of negotiations for free trade agreements with Ecuador and six Central American countries as part of a plan to expand its presence in the region, the government said Wednesday.
[Herald Interview] Korea to defend rice market in TPP talks
28-Apr-2015     Korea Herald
Korea’s top agriculture policymaker has emphasized that the government will not further open the country's rice market if and when it joins the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership
S. Korea, New Zealand formally sign FTA
23-Mar-2015     Xinhua
South Korea and New Zealand on Monday formally signed a free trade agreement (FTA) after South Korean President Park Geun-hye and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key held talks in Korea.