The First Anniversary Evaluation of the Korea-U.S. FTA and Its Implications

Since it was signed in April of 2007, and after undergoing additional negotiations in 2011, the Korea-U.S. FTA finally came into effect as of March 15, 2012, with the completion of the ratification process in the two countries after six years since negotiations began. Some were hopeful while others remained concerned about the KORUS FTA, as it is a high-level and comprehensive FTA that was signed with a mega-economic power. Accordingly, there had been many tough challenges in internal negotiations for the KORUS FTA to become effective. This paper aims to evaluate, however on a limited basis, the effect the KORUS FTA had on the trade and investment in the two countries as of its first anniversary