The show’s not over yet on the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, but while there’s a lull in the proceedings I’m taking the opportunity to post a few links which I’ll update as necessary.
1. The text of the draft agreement
- The full text – an index of all the pdf documents which make up the individual chapters
- Press release containing links to a summary document and specific summaries of the auto and agricultural provisions
2. Coverage from the US perspective
- South Korea, U.S. release full text of free trade agreement – International Herald Tribune, 25 May:
Earlier this month, the Bush administration, under pressure from Congressional Democrats, agreed to new trade policy guidelines that will elevate labor and environmental rights to key components in future free trade agreements.
The new policy will apply immediately to pending deals with Peru and Panama. It also will become a part of accords already negotiated with South Korea and Colombia.
“The administration and Congress are still in the process of converting this agreement into formal text,” the USTR statement said, referring to the new guidelines. “When that process is complete, the United States looks forward to working together with Korea to reflect that agreement.”
- Congressional Leaders Break New Ground With Proposed Korea FTA Fixes, American Economic Alert, 29 June 2007.
- Rice, Clinton clash over KORUS FTA, Chosun, 11 October
3. Will Korea be open to renegotiation?
- No, says Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, quoted by the Korean embassy in Washington on 22 May
- Maybe, says Ambassador Kim Jong-hoon, South Korea’s chief negotiator – Yonhap, 18 May.
- Sort of, (Korean Government’s Position on Additional KORUS FTA Consultations), MOFAT press release, June 19
4. Earlier coverage
- Korea-U.S. FTA lifts Roh’s approval ratings, Yonhap, 4 April 2007
- Korea, U.S. Still at Odds Over Kaesong Goods, Chosun, 4 April 2007
- US and S Korea agree trade deal, BBC, 2 April 2007
- Head of Fitch Asia says deal good for economy, Joongang, 5 April 2007
5. The Korean opposition
- No FTA – Korean Alliance against KorUS FTA
6. The case FOR