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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
Price gouging undermines South Korean trade pacts, minister says
8-Aug-2012     Bloomberg
South Korean consumers aren’t getting the full benefit of deals lowering trade barriers because distributors and wholesalers aren’t passing along the savings in import costs, the nation’s trade minister said.
Korea, Turkey sign FTA
2-Aug-2012     Arirang
Korea and Turkey signed a free trade agreement on Wednesday. This is the ninth trade pact signed by Korea.
Korea, Turkey to ink FTA on Wednesday
30-Jul-2012    
Korea and Turkey are scheduled to ink a bilateral free trade agreement and an agreement on trade in goods on Wednesday in Ankara, Seoul’s Trade Ministry said on Monday.
Israel, Korea hope to start negotiations on free trade pact
29-Jul-2012    
Israel and Korea hope to begin formal free trade negotiations next year, according to Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister on Thursday.
Colombia strengthens ‘blood’ brotherhood with Korea
22-Jul-2012    
The Korea-Colombia Free Trade Agreement will be a win-win opportunity for both economies and help further strengthen the “brotherhood” forged through blood during the Korea War, the Colombian Ambassador said Tuesday.
FTAs push S. Korean farmers into 'sink or swim' crises
11-Jul-2012     Asahi Shimbun
Korean pig farmers are increasingly finding themselves in a pickle after the European Union began exporting pork bellies, a fixture in the Korean diet, for less than one-third of the local price under the FTA that took effect in July last year.
Korea, Colombia conclude free trade deal
26-Jun-2012     Korea Times
The leaders of Korea and Colombia announced early Tuesday morning that the two countries had finished the negotiations for a free trade agreement.
Korea & Chile agree to upgrade FTA to new level
24-Jun-2012     Arirang
The two countries have decided to expand cooperation to various fields, such as education, culture and renewable energy, through an enhanced trade pact.
South Korea, Colombia close to striking FTA: trade officials
28-May-2012    
Trade officials in Seoul indicated yesterday that South Korea and Colombia will soon conclude a free trade agreement (FTA).
Our Sister’s Garden and the KORUS FTA
12-May-2012     Hankyoreh
"We lose two trillion won every year because we are importing that amount of agricultural products from other countries, in this case, the United States. That means, ten percent of the population--300,000 peasants--will be forced out of their businesses every year. That means the end to our agricultural base. So, the FTA is a system for the one percent of the people."

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