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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 upgrade relations to 'comprehensive strategic partnership'
10-May-2012    
South Korea and Peru upgraded their relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" Thursday in a move expected to bring the two far-off countries even closer after their economic ties got a boost from last year's free trade agreement.
South Korean voters set to make left turn
8-Apr-2012    
A coalition of left of centre parties is well positioned to win South Korea’s parliamentary elections on Wednesday with a platform of improving social services and renegotiating a free-trade pact with the United States.
Prices of certain US, EU products unchanged despite FTAs
6-Apr-2012    
Prices of certain imports from Europe and the U.S. have remained the same despite tariff cuts from free trade agreements with both economic blocs, the Fair Trade Commission in Seoul said Thursday.
India plans to abolish ISD clause in FTAs
6-Apr-2012    
India plans to abolish the investor-state dispute system and renegotiate FTAs with South Korea, Singapore, and other countries, an Indian newspaper reported.
No Korean FTA today - Gillard
1-Apr-2012    
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she will raise the topic of free trade with the South Korean president, but a final deal could be some way off.
Diversion of FTA benefits
1-Apr-2012    
Importers and distributors, not consumers, are the chief beneficiaries of free trade agreements (FTA). Korea badly needs drastic reform in the distribution channels as consumers are victims of price gouging.
Korea, Turkey sign tentative FTA
26-Mar-2012    
The governments of Korea and Turkey on Monday provisionally signed a bilateral free trade agreement, completing three years of negotiations.
Ankara, Seoul to conclude free trade agreement
20-Feb-2012     New Europe
The sides are nearing completion of agreement on their trade in goods but yet to sort differences over services and investment.
South Korea-China FTA negotiations on the horizon
9-Feb-2012    
Official procedures are under way toward negotiations for a free trade agreement between South Korea and China. Bilateral talks are expected to start some time around April or May.
Visit signals ‘happy end’ to FTA talks with South Korea
5-Feb-2012    
Deliberations to ink a free trade agreement (FTA) with Turkey will “soon” conclude successfully, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told reporters in İstanbul on Saturday, signaling that talks which have been ongoing for almost two years between the two countries will finally yield fruit.

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