EU-South Korea trade deal ‘extremely close’

The Council adopted on the 16 September 2010 a decision giving the go-ahead for an agreement with South Korea on free trade to be signed and provisionally applied.

The agreement, initialled on 15 October 2009, provides for the progressive liberalisation by both parties of trade in goods and services, as well as rules on trade-related issues such as competition and state aid, intellectual property and public procurement.

It is expected to be signed at the EU-South Korea summit in Brussels on 6 October 2010.

ESO: Background information: EU buoyed by draft South Korea trade deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-buoyed-by-draft-south-korea-trade-deal/

EEAS: South Korea http://www.eeas.europa.eu/korea_south/index_en.htm

European Commission: DG Trade: Bilateral relations: South Korea http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/korea/

European Parliament: Press Release, 7.9.10: EU-South Korea trade agreement: final vote on the safeguard clause postponed http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/026-81453-249-09-37-903-20100907IPR81452-06-09-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

EurActiv, 17.9.10: EU agrees trade deal with South Korea, Pakistan http://www.euractiv.com/trade/eu-agreed-trade-deal-with-south-korea-concession-pakistan-news-497879

EUObserver, 16.9.10: EU to open markets to South Korea in July 2011 http://euobserver.com/9/30822

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/10/242: Council approves agreement with South Korea on free trade http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/116545.pdf

---