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

See also
South Korean president supports Aust FTA
4-Mar-2009     TVNZ
South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak Lee will announce the start of formal negotiations towards a free trade agreement with Australia in Canberra on Thursday.
S Korea finds economic breakthrough opportunities in FTAs
20-Feb-2009     Xinhua
South Korea's chief free trade negotiator said free trade is essential to break through the current economic slump, South Korea's Korea Herald said Friday.
Koreans eye opportunities from free trade deal
13-Feb-2009    
Hee-Beom Lee is a fierce free trade advocate who believes there are plenty of opportunities for Korean business people to invest in New Zealand including in critical sectors like dairy.
Korea, Peru to have FTA negotiations in March
25-Jan-2009     Korea.net
Korea and Peru agreed to hold the first round of FTA negotiations in March, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said
Seoul, Tokyo Agree to Resume Talks on FTA
12-Jan-2009    
South Korea and Japan will hold working-level discussions on resuming their negotiations on free trade agreement (FTA) while working closely to overcome the worldwide financial crisis now threatening both their economies, Yonhap News reported quoting Seoul's presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae Monday.
Korea seeks free trade with Russia, Mercosur
10-Dec-2008     Joong Ang Ilbo
Korea wants to offset the expected slowdown in growth next year by expanding free trade pacts with Russia and South America's Mercosur members, a government official said yesterday.
S Korea, Japan to seek resumption of FTA talks
26-Nov-2008     Xinhua
South Korea's Trade Ministry said Wednesday that South Korea and Japan will launch working-level meeting next week to seek the resumption of negotiation over free trade agreement (FTA).
Korea, Peru to begin free trade talks next year
22-Nov-2008    
President Lee Myung-bak and Peruvian President Alan Garcia agreed yesterday to launch negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement in the first half of next year.
Korea seeks FTAs with S. American nations
19-Nov-2008     Korea Times
President Lee Myung-bak called Tuesday for the launch of negotiations on a free trade agreement between South Korea and the Southern American Common Market, called MERCOSUR, involving Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil. In a separate interview with a Peruvian newspaper, Lee said he would declare the beginning of free trade negotiations with Peru.
FTA with Cambodia to go into effect in November
31-Oct-2008    
A free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and Cambodia will go into effect as of November, the government said Friday.

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