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On 18 June 2015, six Central American countries
(Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) and Korea launched negotiations
towards a free trade agreement. The first round of negotiations for the Central America-Korea Free
Trade Agreement took place from 21 to 25 September 2015, in Seoul, Korea. The second round of free
trade negoations was held from 23-27 Novemeber 2015, in San Salvador, El Salvador. The third round
of free trade negotiations between Central America and Korea was held from 22-26 February 2016. The
fourth round of negotiations between the parties was held on 23-27 May 2016, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Central America and South Korea met for the fifth round of negotiations in Seoul on August 16, 2016.
The sixth round of negotiations took place in Managua, Nicaragua on September 26-30, 2016. The
seventh round of negotiations began on October 24, 2016.
Central America and the Republic of Korea concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement on
November 16, 2016 in Managua, Nicaragua. Central America and South Korea carried out the legal
review of the texts of their free trade agreement on February 13-17.
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama signed the Central America-Korea Free Trade
Agreement in Seoul, Korea on February 21, 2018. Additionally, on the same date, Costa Rica and Korea
signed a memorandum of understanding to promote trade, investment and cooperation.
On September 4, 2023, September 4, 2023, Guatemala and Korea signed the Joint Ministerial Declaration for the Accession of Guatemala to the FTA between the Republics of Central America and the Republic of Korea. With the signing of the declaration, the conclusion of the negotiations between both countries and Central America was officially announced. They committed to continue carrying out the corresponding efforts to achieve the incorporation of Guatemala into the current FTA with the Republic of Korea. The closing of the negotiation, whose signature was celebrated in a virtual format, is the result of the Joint Ministerial Declaration of September 30, 2021, when Parties agreed to negotiate Guatemala's accession to the FTA and proceed in this way, to conclude market access of merchandise, as well as management and coordination between technical teams from the Republic of Korea and Central America.
On January 8, 2024, in its capacity as Pro Tempore President of the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration of Central America (COMIECO), Guatemala chaired the Second Meeting of the Joint Committee of the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Korea and Central America. During this meeting, the agenda item was the approval of the Protocol of Accession of Guatemala to the Free Trade Agreement with South Korea.
| Documents relating to the negotiations
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| 10 January 2024 |
Pro Tempore Presidency of Central America leads the signing of Guatemala's accession to the FTA with South Korea  
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| 04 September 2023 |
Guatemala and Korea sign Joint Ministerial Declaration for the Accession of Guatemala to the FTA between the Republics of Central America and the Republic of Korea
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| 13 September 2021 |
Guatemala resumes trade negotiations with South Korea
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| 21 February 2018 |
Seoul, South Korea.
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras,
Nicaragua and Panama sign Central America-Korea FTA
Press Releases:
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama
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| 21 February 2018 |
Seoul, South Korea.
Costa Rica and Korea sign memorandum of understanding to promote trade, investment
and cooperation
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| 13-17 February 2017 |
San José, Costa Rica.
Central America and the Republic of Korea complete legal review of the texts of the free trade agreement
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| 16 November 2016 |
Managua, Nicaragua.
Central America and the Republic
of Korea concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement: Joint Statement.
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| 24-31 October 2016 |
Seoul, Korea. Seventh round of free trade negotiations
between Central America and Korea
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| 26-30 September 2016 |
Managua, Nicaragua. Sixth round of free trade negotiations
between Central America and Korea
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| 16 August 2016 |
Seoul, Korea. Fifth round of free trade negotiations
between Central America and Korea
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| 15 July 2016 |
San Jose, Costa Rica. Intersessional meeting
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| 23-27 May 2016 |
Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Fourth round of free trade
negotiations between Central America and Korea
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| 22-26 February 2016 |
San Francisco, California, USA. Third round of free
trade negotiations between Central America and Korea
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| 10 February 2016 |
Third round of free trade negotiations between Central America
and Korea will be held from 22-26 February 2016
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| 23-27 November 2015 |
San Salvador, El Salvador.
Second round of negotiations for a free
trade agreement between Central America and Korea
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| 21-25 September 2015 |
Seoul, Korea.
First round of negotiations for a free
trade agreement between Central America and Korea
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| 18 June 2015 |
Central America and Korea announce launch of free trade negotiations
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| Source:
Ministerio de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (CONicMEX); Ministerio de Economía, El Salvador;
Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores y Cooperación Internacional, Honduras;
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Republic of Korea;
Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio, aragua;
Ministerio de Industrias y Comercio, Panama; Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico, Honduras |
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