bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo
  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

Gov't mulls profit-sharing scheme for FTA-hit farmers
13-Mar-2015     Yonhap
South Korea's agriculture ministry said Friday that it is considering requiring firms that benefit from the country's free trade agreements (FTAs) to share some of their profits to help make up for losses suffered by farmers, which has led to strong opposition from the business circle.
KITA pushes resumption of FTA negotiations with Gulf Cooperation Council
2-Mar-2015     Business Korea
Korea's premier corporate lobby group says that Korea should resume FTA negotiations, which have been stopped, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as soon as possible and target the markets in the Middle East.
S. Korea, Turkey ink FTA in services, investment
26-Feb-2015     Yonhap
South Korea and Turkey on Thursday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in the investment and service sectors that will complement their bilateral trade pact that went into effect nearly two years ago.
Korea, New Zealand agree free trade pact
22-Dec-2014     Korea Herald
Korea and New Zealand on Monday initialed their free trade agreement, negotiations for which concluded on Nov. 15, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said.
S. Korea pushes to strike FTAs with China, Vietnam, New Zealand this year
16-Oct-2014    
South Korea said Thursday it will push to conclude free trade agreements (FTA) with China, Vietnam and New Zealand before the year's end.
S. Korea, New Zealand to hold fresh round of FTA negotiations this week
15-Oct-2014    
South Korea and New Zealand are set to hold a new round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) this week, the Seoul government said Tuesday, amid hopes from both sides that the latest round will be the last of its kind.
FTA benefits elude Kaesong
26-Aug-2014     Korea JoongAng Daily
None of the companies operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex are eligible for FTA benefits because of sanctions from developed countries against North Korea.
Ecuador wants Korea to start CEPA talks immediately
11-Aug-2014     Korea Times
Ecuadorian Ambassador Nicolas Trujillo Newlin called the Korean government today, urging it begin negotiations toward signing a trade agreement with the country.
South Korea farmers begin fresh protests against rice market liberalization
1-Aug-2014     Oryza.com
Farmers are demanding a Rice Tariff Law and also want the government to exclude rice from all future Free Trade Agreements (FTA).
KITA releases FTA report in English
24-Jul-2014     Korea Herald
The Institute for International Trade, a think tank under the Korea International Trade Association, released a report in English on Korea’s free trade agreement policies, processes and communication strategies between governments and private businesses.