Korea has concluded FTAs with Singapore, EFTA, ASEAN, India(CEPA), etc. and signed FTAs with U.S. and EUFTA since its first FTA with Chile on April 1st, 2004. Hence, we are now living in an FTA era.
Nevertheless, there has been relatively few studies on FTA country of origin rules and standards compared to other fields. Besides, studies which have been conducted so far have focused on the comparison between country of origin rules itself, the necessity of FTAs with other countries or the analysis of the economic effects of FTAs.
The primary purpose of this study was to determine features and commonalities of individual FTAs through a comparative study on the criteria for determining the country of origin and regulations of the customs procedures in FTAs which Korea has ever concluded. This study attempted to determine the criteria for determining the country of origin of each product which Korea conceded in the process of concluding FTAs, analyse commonalities and differences on the criteria for determining the country of origin in individual FTAs and deduce the criteria for determining the country of origin tailored to characteristics of each industry in Korea. It was also attempted, in this study, to establish standard models for the criteria for determining the country of origin of each industry and product, which can be used to maximize Korea's national interest, and recommend a strategy for negotiations on the criteria for determining the country of origin of Korea by collecting and analysing problems that have occurred in the process of implementing FTAs.