Recent News

March 15, 2012
Jobs On The Way: U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement Enters Into Force

 

February 21, 2012
United States, Korea Set Date for Entry Into Force of U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement

 

February 18, 2012
Update on Implementation of the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement

 

January 25, 2012
Update on Implementation of Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama

 

January 6, 2012
Update on Implementation of Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama

 

December 19, 2011
Update on Implementation of Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama

 

December 5, 2011
Update on Implementation of Free Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama

 

October 21, 2011:
Statement By U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk On Presidential Signature Of Trade Legislation

 

October 13, 2011
BLOG: Statements Regarding the Congressional Approval of the Korea, Colombia, and Panama Trade Agreements

 

 

FACT SHEET: From Enactment To Entry Into Force: Next Steps On The Trade Agreements

 

October 12, 2011:
Statement By U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk On Congressional Passage Of Trade Agreements, Trade Adjustment Assistance And Key Preference Programs

 

October 3, 2011
U.S Trade Representative Ron Kirk Calls for Swift Passage of Trade Agreements 

 

 

August 3,2011:
Kirk Comment on Pending Trade Agreements, Trade Adjustment Assistance 

 

July 7, 2011:
USTR Kirk Comments Following Trade Markups In Senate Finance, House Ways and Means Committees

  

July 5, 2011:
Statement from USTR Kirk Regarding Announcement of House Ways & Means Committee Markup

 

June 30, 2011:
Ambassador Kirk Statement Regarding the Planned Informal Markup in The Senate Finance Committee

 

June 29, 2011:
INFO: Links on Pending Trade Agreements, TAA, Preference Programs

 

June 28, 2011:
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk Welcomes Next Steps on Pending Trade Pacts, Trade Adjustment Assistance

 

April 7, 2011:
Statement by Ambassador Demetrios Marantis before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade

 

February 10, 2011:
Signed Legal Texts Related to the U.S.-South Korea Trade Agreement 

 

December 3, 2011:
Statement by the President Announcing the U.S.-South Korea Trade Agreement  

 

Important U.S.-South Korea Links


Port of MiamiBenefits for Your Industry: USTR Fact Sheets

This Agreement would eliminate tariffs on over 95 percent of industrial and consumer goods within five years. It will promote the further integration of the U.S. and South Korean economies and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in the world’s 12th largest economy. Visit USTR's Fact Sheet page to find out how the agreement will specifically benefit your sector.

 

Tractor in a fieldBenefits for Your Farm: Agriculture Fact Sheets

The United States is already South Korea’s top supplier of agriculture products, including of a broad variety of farm products such as almonds, fresh cherries, hides and skins and corn. The U.S.-South Korea trade agreement creates new opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and food processors seeking to export to South Korea’s 49 million consumers, giving American agricultural producers more market access in two ways – by getting rid of tariffs charged when U.S. exports come into South Korea, and by laying out a framework to tackle other barriers to U.S. exports –even those that might arise in the future. Visit the Department of Agriculture's website to find out how the agreement will benefit your sector.

 

Manufacturing PlantBenefits for Your Sector: Industry Fact Sheets: Benefits for Your Sector

The U.S-South Korea trade agreement creates new opportunities for U.S. manufacturers seeking to export to South Korea in two ways: first, it eliminates tariffs, or duties, charged when U.S. exports come into South Korea; and it addresses non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports – whether by eliminating barriers that are in place today, or by establishing a framework to prevent non-tariff barriers from arising in the future. Visit the Department of Commerce's website to find out how the agreement will benefit your sector.  

 

AgreementFull Text of the Agreement

Read the full text of the U.S.-South Korea trade agreement, which is an integral part of the President’s efforts to increase opportunities for U.S. businesses, farmers and workers through improved access for their products and services in foreign markets, and supports the President’s National Export Initiative goal of doubling of U.S. exports in 5 years. You can find the Legal Texts reflecting December 3, 2010 Agreement here. You can also find an updated text of the South Korean-language version of the U.S.-South Korea trade agreement here.

Support for the U.S.-South Korea Trade Agreement

Statements of support for the U.S.-South Korea Trade Agreement from various elected officials, the business community, and advocacy groups can be found below.

 

Visit Your Government Trade Partners

Visit USTR's partners across the federal government to learn more about their part in the trade agreement.

Department of Agriculture Seal     Department of Agriculture

Commerce Seal     Commerce Department

Labor Department Seal     Department of Labor

OMB Seal     Office of Management and Budget

Export Import Bank Seal      Export-Import Bank

SBA Seal      Small Business Administration

OPIC Seal      Overseas Private Investment Corp.

USTDA Seal      Trade and Development Agency

State Department Seal      State Department

U.S.-South Korea Trade Agreement

New Opportunities for U.S. Exporters Under the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement

The entry into force of the U.S.-Korea trade agreement on March 15, 2012 means countless new opportunities for U.S. exporters to sell more Made-in-America goods, services, and agricultural products to Korean customers – and to support more good jobs here at home. If you’re an American exporter, here are resources to answer your questions about how the U.S.-Korea trade agreement can work for you:

• Check out the FTA Tariff Tool to find out the new tariff levels for your products, and other information about your market access under the agreement.

• For a detailed list of resources to assist U.S. exporters and importers, including information regarding certification of origin, please see Tools to Help Utilize the U.S.-Korea FTA. 

• For further assistance, please email KORUS@ustr.eop.gov or call USTR's Office of Korean Affairs at 202-395-5070, where Bryant Trick or Su-Jin Yoo can help to answer additional questions.

 

Trade Agreement Home  •  Jobs  •  New Opportunities  •  Meet American Businesses  •  Key Facts


The President speaks on the new free and fair trade agreement with South Korea that includes groundbreaking environmental and labor standards on December 3, 2010. Read the transcript

State Map 

See How This Agreement Supports Jobs

This agreement will create new opportunities for significantly more exports creating additional jobs for American workers in sectors ranging from delivery services to education and health care services, too.

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Made in USA Stamp 

Discover New Opportunities for Made in America Exports

With the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) estimating that the tariff cuts alone in the U.S.-South Korea trade agreement will increase exports of American goods by $10 billion to $11 billion, advancing this agreement will secure the tens of thousands of American jobs supported by those exports – as well as the additional American jobs that will come from by breaking down non-tariff barriers keeping U.S. exports out of South Korea, and by requiring stronger protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in South Korea. 

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Ambassador Kirk at a Chicago Manufacturing Plant

Meet American Businesses Counting on This Agreement

Small- and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, and the primary source of jobs for Americans. These businesses grow faster and hire more workers when they export. The U.S.-South Korea trade agreement will open doors for U.S. businesses to export more, create more jobs, and grow their businesses.

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Exports Chart

Learn Key Facts About the Agreement  

Now more than ever, America’s ability to create jobs here at home depends on our ability to export goods and services to the world. From 1960 to 2010, exports’ share of our country’s gross domestic product – that’s the measure of America’s overall economic output – more than doubled. By 2008 exports supported more than 10 million American jobs, and those are positions that pay well: Americans whose jobs depend on trade earn 13 to 18 percent more than the national average.

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