Korea

KORUS FTA Negotiations

Text of the KORUS FTA

Government Documents

US Government

April 2, 2007. USTR Fact Sheet. Free Trade with Korea - Summary of the KORUS FTA.
April 2, 2007. USTR press release. United States and Korea Conclude Historic Trade Agreement.
March 20, 2007. Assistant USTR Karan Bhatia. Testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.
Janary 19, 2007. Transcript of Assistant USTR Wendy Cutler at the Closing Press Conference at 6th Round of US-Korea FTA Talks.
July 14, 2006. USTR. Statement of Assistant USTR Wendy Culter on the Conclusion of the Second Round of Negotiations of the KORUS FTA.
March 8, 2006. USTR. Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning Proposed Free Trade Agreement With Republic of Korea.
February 2, 2006. USTR. Letter to the Senate informing it of USTR's intention to seek an FTA with Korea. This document includes specific US negotiating objectives.

Korean Government

February 27, 2007. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Press release. Korean, U.S. trade ministers stress flexibility at next FTA round.
May 15, 2006. Cho Won-dong, Director of the economic policy bureau, Ministry of Finance and Economy. Op-ed published in The Hankyoreh. Honest approach required in Korea-U.S. FTA negotiation.
February 2, 2006. Korean Embassy. Ambassador Lee Puts Emphasis on US-ROK Trade Ties.

CPTech Comments

July 18, 2006. James Love in the Huffington Post. USTR's FTAs, and a new approach for global negotiations on medicines.
July 12, 2006. James Love in the Huffington Post. Korea FTA negotiations on medicines will harm us too.
March 27, 2006. James Love. CPTech Comments on the United States-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.
March 27, 2006. James Love in the Hiffington Post. Globalization in a Good Way? - What the US/Korea FTA Could Be About
March 13, 2006. CPTech Blogs on the USTR Hearings on the FTA.
- Lukas Fendel
- Mike Palmedo

NGO Documents

April 2, 2007. The Heritage Foundation. The U.S.–South Korea FTA: A Defining Moment.
July 14, 2006. Joint Statement by 14 Korean NGOs. Korean Civil Societies Statement on 2nd Round of Korea-US FTA Talks.
July 12, 2006. Note from Heesob Nam on the State of the Negotiations. Suspended Talks on Pharmaceuticals in KORUS FTA.

Academic Documents

May 25, 2007. Sean Flynn and Mike Palmedo. Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property, American University, Washington College of Law. PIJIP Comments on the Korus FTA Pharmaceuticals and IP Chapters.
March 20, 2007. Sean Flynn, American University, Washington College of Law's Testimony Before the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.

Industry Comments

Branded Pharmaceuticals
- April 17, 2007. Biotechnology Industry Organization. BIO Commends USTR for Successfully Concluding U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
- March 20, 2007. Geralyn S. Ritter, Vice President of International Affairs, PhRMA Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Trade of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- July 26, 2006. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Associatin. Korean Drug Pricing Regulations Threaten Patient Access and Free Trade Agreement.
- March 13, 2006. Joseph Damond for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Testimony at the March 13, 2005 USTR Hearings on the FTA
Generic Pharmaceuticals
- March 13, 2006. Shawn Brown for the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. Testimony at the March 13, 2005 USTR Hearings on the FTA.
April 2, 2007. U.S. Chamber of Commerce. AMCHAM Applauds Successful Conclusion of the KORUS FTA.

Misc.

July 15, 2006. Photos of Korean FTA demonstrations (both in Seoul and Washington DC).

News Stories

Kelly Olsen for the Associated Press. Korea, U.S. Release Full Trade Deal Text.
May 25, 2007. Reuters. U.S., South Korea issue trade text, to sign deal June 30.
April 3, 2007. Reuters. Praise, for a Change, for Seoul's Roh on Trade Deal.
April 3, 2007. Peter Goodman for the Washington Post. South Korea, U.S. Reach Trade Deal - Last-Minute Pact Faces Tall Hurdles.
April 3, 2007. Aaron Glantz for OneWorld.net. U.S.-Korea Trade Deal Disappoints Labor, Rights Activists.
April 3, 2007. Financial Times editorial. A Tangled Trade Web.
April 2, 2007. Jon Kim for Reuters. South Korea, U.S. seal trade deal at last minute.
April 2, 2007. Bloomberg. U.S. Reaches Free-Trade Agreement With South Korea.
April 2, 2007. Evan Ramstad for the Wall Street Journal. U.S., South Korea Reach Trade Pact.
April 2, 2007. Kim Tong-hyung for the Korea Times. Trade Pact Risks Environment, Public Health.
April 2, 2007. The Hankyoreh. U.S. lawmakers, industries express discontent with South Korea FTA.
April 2, 2007. Chosun Iblo editorial. No One Must Be Left Behind in a Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
April 2, 2007. Anna Fifield for the Financial Times. US and S Korea reach landmark trade deal.
March 29, 2007. Sean Flynn and Sharon Treat's op-ed in TomPaine.com A Drug Deal Gone Bad.
March 26, 2007. Jon Herskovitz for Rueters. South Korea, U.S. hold last-gasp talks on trade deal.
March 26, 2007. Kim Yon-se for the Korea Times. Seoul, Washington Set to Make FTA Package Deal.
March 14, 2007. Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. Agreement Eludes US and Korea in FTA Talks, Despite Prgoress.
March 13, 2007. The Hankyoreh. South Korea set to compromise on key trade issue.
March 12, 2007. Kelly Olsen for the Associated Press. U.S. Says S. Korea Trade Talks Progress.
March 12, 2007. Bilaterals.org. Five-Thousand Rally against Free Trade amidst Strong Police Violence.
March 11, 2007. Dong-a Ilbo. Progress Made in Korea-U.S. FTA Talks.
March 9, 2007. Kelly Olsen for the Associated Press. U.S., South Korea strive for trade deal.
March 9, 2007. The Hankyoreh. As 8th round of S.K.-U.S. free trade talks opens, same questions linger.
February 25, 2007. Yonhap News. Firm base set for final conclusion of S. Korea-U.S. FTA: finance minister.
February 15, 2007. Dow Jones Newswire. No major breakthrough in US-S Korea free trade talks.
February 14, 2007. Kim Yon-se for the Korea Times. Korea-US FTA to Remove Tariffs on 70 Goods.
February 14, 2007. The Hankyoreh. S. Korea-U.S. FTA talks head for 8th round amid looming deadline.
February 13, 2007. The Korea Times. Korea Reports `Significant Progress' in FTA Talks With US.
February 5, 2007. The Hankyoreh. Lawmakers threaten to reject ratification of Korea-U.S. free trade pact.
February 3, 2007. The Hankyoreh. Court: Free Trade Draft Stays Under Wraps.
January 24, 2007. Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. US FTA Negotiations with Korea, Malaysia Struggling.
January 16, 2007. Sam Kim for Yonhap News. Thousands of protesters voice opposition to FTA amid bolstered police presence.
December 13, 2006. Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. US-Korea Trade Negotiations Stumble.
December 10, 2006. Park Hyong-ki for the Korea Times. Korea, US Look for Extra Round of FTA Talks.
December 8, 2006. William Mann for the Associated Press. U.S.-South Korea Trade Talks Go On.
December 8, 2006. Kim Deok-hyun for Yonhap News. No major progress reported in S. Korea-U.S. free trade talks.
July 26, 2006. Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. US-Korea FTA Talks End Early Amidst Disagreement.
July 25, 2006. Park Chung-a for the Korea Times. Drug Bill Clouds US FTA.
July 25, 2006. Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. A Korea-U.S. trade agreement: what is at stake?
July 20, 2006. Korea Herald. Seoul reaffirms FTA stance.
July 19, 2006. Lee Hyo-sik for the Korea Times. Drug Pricing Absent From FTA Agenda.
July 15, 2006. Keuk-In Bae Suk-Min Hong for he Dong-A Ilbo. FTA Talks Stall on Lack of Compromise.
July 14, 2006. Choe Sang-Hun for the International Herald Tribune. U.S.-South Korea Talks End Early.
July 14, 2006. Agence Frace Presse. Medicine snags Seoul FTA talks.
July 12, 2006. Mathew Maavak for the Korea Herald. Pharmaceuticals contentious issue in FTA.
July 13, 2006. The Hankyoreh. U.S. boycotts discussions on medicines in FTA talks with S. Korea.
July 12, 2006. Bloomberg. South Korea Deploys 100,000 Police Against Protesters.
July 11, 2006. The Hankyoreh. Bipartisan criticism raised against free trade approach.
July 11, 2006. The Hankyoreh. Seoul, Washington differ in approach to preliminary free trade talks.
July 10, 2006. Kim Tong-hyung for the Korea Times. Protests to Intensify Over FTA.
July 9, 2006. Kelly Olson for the Associated Press. U.S. and South Korea Open Trade Talks.
July 9, 2006. Agence France Presse. South Korea, US resume free trade talks amid protests.
July 9, 2006. Kim Tong-hyung for the Korea Times. Seoul Braces for Anti-FTA Protests.
June 15, 2006. Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. U.S. and Korea Hold First Round of FTA Talks.
June 15, 2006 Chung Ah-young for the Korea Times. New Drug Policy Angers Multinationals.
June 9, 2006. Martin Crutsinger for the Associated Press. U.S. Cites Progress in South Korea Talks.
June 8, 2006. Digital Chosunilbo. Korea, U.S. at Odds on Two-Thirds of Free-Trade Agenda.
June 7, 2006. The Hankyoreh. Ministry fears effects of FTA on healthcare system.
June 7, 2006. Edward Alden for the Financial Times. Health spending issues hit US, Seoul talks.
June 7, 2006. Terrence Mitchell for OhMyNews.com. Tensions at US-Korean FTA Talks Leave Little Room for Optimism.
June 6, 2006. Doug Palmer for Reuters. U.S., South Korea kick off trade talks amid protests.
May 5, 2006. Korea Times. Swollen Drug Prices: US Intervention Is Neither Understandable Nor Acceptable.
April 17, 2006. Anna Fifield for the Financial Times. Seoul says won't rush into US bilateral trade deal.

Royalty Guidelines

November 3, 2005. Heesob Nam. Royalty Guidelines and Actual Royalties in Exporting Pharmaceutical Patents from South Korea.

Earlier Documents from Ongoing Trade Disputes on Drug Pricing in Korea

Government Documents
- 2002. USTR National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. Excerpt from chapter on Korea.
- July 2, 2001. US Commerce Secretary Don Evans. Letter to Minister of Health and Welfare Kim Won-Gil threatening a trade dispute with Korea.
- October 25, 2000. European Commission Decision in dispute over Korean measures affecting trade in pharmaceutical products. Notice of initiation of an examination procedure (from 1999), and the Commission Decision.
- April 12, 1999. Han Duck-Soo, Minister of State for Trade. Letter to Deputy USTR Richard Fisher.
Trade Organizations and Business Groups
- November, 2004. European Chamber of Commerce in Korea. Trade Issues and Recommendations - Pharmaceuticals.
- February 12, 2004. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Korea chapter of the PhRMA Submission to the USTR for the 301 report.
News Stories
- June 12, 2004. Rambabu Garikipati for the Korea Herald. EU companies frustrated with drug pricing guidelines.

Legislation for the Export of Pharmaceutical Products Produced Under Compulsory License

May 31, 2005. Amendments to the Korean Patent Act. Article 106 - Expropriation of Patent Right etc.
September 21, 2004. Earlier draft of legislation, written by by HeeSeob Nam.

Compulsory Licensing Dispute of Glivec

On January 30, 2002, the People's Health Coalition for Equitable Society, the Association of Physicians for Humanism, and the Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society jointly filed for a compulsory license for Glivec. This is a drug that has been highly successful in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and a stomach cancer called gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Norvartis sets the Korean price according to the price in seven high-income countries, so the drug is priced out of reach for most Koreans.

Half a year earlier, US Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, had written the Korean Ministers of Health and Trade, threatening a "serious trade dispute" over drug pricing. The request for a compulsory license was quickly denied.

Januaruy 30, 2002. HeeSeob NAM and SungHo PARK on behalf of People's Health Coalition for Equitable Society, Association of Physicians for Humanism, and Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society. Text of the request for a compulsory license.
Life First Before Making a Profit! Cut the Price of Glivec!
CPTech Notes on Pharmaceutical Pricing Agreement Between U.S and Korea. The agreement comes after years of pressure from the U.S., and ties the price of drugs in Korea to the price of drugs in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan.
March, 2003. Decision on the Request for Adjudication for the Grant of a Non-Exclusive License.
February 6, 2003. Korean Leukemia patients arrested while trying to meet with Novartis.
May 28, 2002. Affidavit of Jacques J. Gorlin, filed by the pharmaceutical industry.
March 18, 2002. Glivec Coalition in South Korea. Petition to National Human Rights Committee.
Januaruy 30, 2002. HeeSeob NAM and SungHo PARK on behalf of People's Health Coalition for Equitable Society, Association of Physicians for Humanism, and Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society. Text of the request for a compulsory license.
July 2, 2001. Letter from US Commerce Secretary Don Evans to Korean Minister of Health and Welfare Kim Won-Gil threatening a "serious trade dispute."
News Stories:
- August 5, 2002. Vincent Landon for SwissInfo.com. Pricing Dispute Leaves Patients Without Drugs.
- August 4, 2002. Andrew Ward for the Financial Times. Novartis in warning over South Korea.
Related CPTech Pages
- Recent Compulsory Licensing Disputes
- Gleevec/Glivec Page

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