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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
Beef, trade on table in Uruguay for South Korean PM
6-Jan-2011     AFP
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik was to open three days of talks in Uruguay Tuesday to advance plans for a trade pact with the region and to hear pleas to end Seoul's ban on Uruguayan beef.
S. Korean PM, Brazil's new president discuss FTA, bullet train project
3-Jan-2011     Yonhap
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, who was in Brazil to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Dilma Rousseff, emphasized the need to begin FTA negotiations with Mercosur.
Seoul to seek more FTAs next year
26-Dec-2010    
South Korea will seek to clinch more free trade agreements (FTAs) with emerging countries, including those from South America and Africa, in a bid to boost trade, the main engine behind the country’s rapid economic growth.
Seoul keen on bilateral trade deal with Manila
17-Nov-2010     Manila Times
Seoul is interested in forging a bilateral trade pact with Manila, the South Korean envoy said on Tuesday.
Korea, Peru sign free trade pact
15-Nov-2010     Korea Times
South Korea and Peru signed a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), Monday, which is expected to be implemented midway through next year after being approved by the parliaments of both countries.
Biz leaders urge FTA with China
21-Oct-2010     Yonhap
Business leaders from Korea and China agreed yesterday to cooperate for an early launch of free trade negotiations between the two countries, the Federation of Korean Industries said yesterday.
South Korean farmers protest against free trade with China
30-Sep-2010     NTDTV
Chanting slogans, shaving their heads and painting banners using their own blood, more than 10,000 farmers gathered in downtown Seoul for the biggest rally by the farmers this year.
Korea, Peru Conclude FTA Talks
30-Aug-2010    
Korea is on track to have a second free trade partner in South America after Chile back in 2003.
S. Korea, Peru to hold free trade talks next week
24-Aug-2010    
South Korea and Peru will hold their fifth round of free trade negotiations next week, Seoul's trade ministry said Tuesday.
Half of S. Korean firms concerned over China-Taiwan trade deal: survey
11-Aug-2010     MCOT
Nearly half of South Korean companies are worried that the new trade pact between China and Taiwan could negatively affect their businesses.

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