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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
Seoul to tighten ties with Latin America
10-Nov-2009    
Korea wraps up today a high-level meeting with representatives of Latin American countries where discussion centered on how the two sides may pursue mutual interests.
Korea-India CEPA Ratified by Nat'l Assembly
9-Nov-2009    
The National Assembly on Friday ratified a trade deal with India, called the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), that will eliminate or reduce tariffs on over 4,000 Korean goods.
National Assembly to Ratify FTA With India
6-Nov-2009    
The governing and opposition parties have agreed to ratify a trade agreement with India at a plenary National Assembly session today, a parliamentary leader said Thursday.
Parliamentary committee approves India trade bill
28-Sep-2009    
A parliamentary committee on Monday approved a comprehensive trade agreement with India that would eliminate or reduce tariffs on over 4,400 Korean products exported to the Asian nation, Yonhap news reported.
S. Korea, New Zealand agree on concerted efforts on free trade negotiations
12-Sep-2009    
South Korea and New Zealand have agreed to make more efforts on the ongoing bilateral free trade negotiations to produce tangible results, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday.
S. Korea, Colombia to start FTA talks this year
3-Sep-2009    
South Korea and Colombia agreed Thursday to begin talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) within the year, Seoul's foreign ministry said after a meeting between their foreign ministers here.
Trade deficit surges 4-fold after FTA with EFTA nations
3-Sep-2009     Korea Times
Korea's trade deficit with a four-European nation economic block has surged by four-fold since the signing of a free trade agreement three years ago, with its imports growing at a much faster pace than exports.
Peru seeks conclusion of FTA with S. Korea within this year
1-Sep-2009    
Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde said Tuesday his government hopes to conclude free trade agreement (FTA) talks with South Korea before November.
Korea can use India for exports to Europe
10-Aug-2009     Korea Times
India should be used as a beachhead for Korea in an effort to provide a deeper penetration for its goods going into Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the Samsung Economic Research Institute argues.
SKorea gets head start over rivals in India with FTA
7-Aug-2009     AFP
South Korea and India Friday signed a pact to scrap or reduce most trade tariffs over the next decade, giving Seoul a head start over its rivals in a market of 1.1 billion 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