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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
S. Korea-Peru FTA to take effect in Aug.
28-Jul-2011    
The free trade accord between South Korea and Peru will take effect on Aug. 1, paving the way for the two countries' trade and investment to increase sharply, Seoul's trade ministry said Wednesday.
'FTA to help Korean goods appeal to Peruvian consumers'
26-Jul-2011    
A former Peruvian minister for commercial affairs said the free trade pact signed between her country and South Korea will give Korean companies greater leverage in promoting their products to consumers in the South American state. The trade accord is to take effect Aug. 1
Fruit stalls Korea-Colombia FTA
18-Jul-2011     Korea Times
Both Korea and Colombia agree in principle on the need for a fast free trade agreement (FTA) but they just cannot nail it because Korea is not ready to accommodate what Colombia wants ― better terms for its fruits and flowers than what Korea gives Peru and Chile.
Push for Colombia’s FTA
12-Jul-2011    
Chief trade officials from Korea and Colombia agreed to closely cooperate for an early conclusion of their free trade negotiations, Seoul’s trade ministry said yesterday.
Senator proposes congressional conference on pending FTA bills
12-Jul-2011    
A senior U.S. senator on Monday proposed a joint "mock conference" by the Senate and the House of Representatives to help resolve a deadlock over trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.
S.Korea and China resume preliminary FTA talks
9-Jul-2011    
The South Korean and Chinese governments recently resumed preliminary ministerial discussions on sensitive areas prior to beginning discussions on a free trade agreement (FTA).
South Korea's FTA strategy
4-Jul-2011    
A free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the European Union took effect on July 1. A close look at South Korea's strategy for securing FTAs with EU and the United States -- although the U.S. Congress has not approved the deal -- could give us a fresh perspective for reviewing Taiwan's economic strategy.
A gov’t that’s often lost in translation
5-Jun-2011    
The embarrassing translation errors in Korea’s free trade agreements have revealed the government’s weakness in translation skills and a startling overconfidence in its civil servants’ foreign language abilities.
Agriculture, the big trade off for the Korea-Mexico FTA
30-May-2011    
Mexico, like Korea, is a country heavily dependent on exports to sustain its economic growth, but the two countries are currently not seeing eye-to-eye over a possible trade deal.
Seoul urged to sign additional FTAs to keep trade growing
24-May-2011    
South Korea needs to sign additional free trade agreements (FTAs) quickly with as many countries as possible to keep its trade growing, a report said Tuesday.

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