August 2, 2004 - Washington, DC To discuss the experience of the Chile-Korea free trade agreement and explore the prospects for similar agreements among other countries in East Asia and Latin America, policy makers, representatives of chambers of commerce, and business leaders in Ecuador, Korea, and Uruguay held a GDLN Global Dialogue on July 20, 2004.

Discussions focused on the process of establishing the agreement among Chile and Korea and the experience of other countries, such as Mexico and Japan, particularly in overcoming opposition from key sectors and industries.

Both Ecuador and Uruguay are currently exploring the expansion of their trade agreements with countries in Latin America and in other regions, while East Asian countries are looking to deepen their economic ties with Latin America.

“At a critical time where we are pursuing closer economic cooperation, this dialogue provided a valuable opportunity to enhance our understanding of specific concerns and interests in Latin America,” said panelist Dr. Dukgeun Ahn, professor at the Korea Development Institute’s School of Public Policy and Management.

The event is the first in a series and was organized by the Korea Development Institute, the GDLN Center in Korea, and the GDLN team for Latin America and the Caribbean. Panelists included the vice-minister of labor of Ecuador and experts from the Korea Development Institute’s School of Public Policy and Management. A follow-up event is scheduled for September 2004.

For more information, please contact Bari Rabin, brabin@worldbank.org