The new politics of trade negotiations: the case of the EU-Korea FTA

Abstract

The European Union (EU) has successfully negotiated with the Republic of Korea its first free trade agreement (FTA) under the scheme of the 2006 Global Europe strategy. The EU-Korea FTA has triggered a number of changes, including the emergence of a new paradigm of trade-policy-making. While traditional negotiation was dominated by governments and/or executive agencies, a new political constellation has emerged with stronger involvement by other stakeholders, including parliamentary actors and civil society organizations (CSOs). Through a case study of FTA negotiations between the EU and Korea, this paper shows that the new players have gained weight in the process of negotiation both by increasing their influence in regulatory activities (Contentious Market Regulation) and creating effective channels for their involvement in the policy-making process (Feedback Loop). This paper also argues that though the changes that took place in both parties were similar, they have had different roots and dimensions.