Politics · South Korea · 4 hrs ago
South Korea puts CPTPP membership application on hold this year
South Korea will not apply to join the CPTPP this year after President Lee Jae-myung told officials to pause the plan.
The CPTPP is a trade agreement involving 12 countries, including Japan, Canada and Australia.
Farmers worry that joining could open South Korea’s market further to agricultural exports from countries such as Australia and New Zealand, hurting local producers.
Lee said the government should first rebuild trust with farmers and listen to their concerns through continued talks.
Government ministries are now expected to gather views from farming and other industries and reassess the effects of membership.
Any new member needs approval from every current member, so a larger group could make South Korea’s eventual application more difficult.
Britain joined in 2024, Costa Rica announced a substantial conclusion to its membership talks in May, and other countries are also seeking to join.
South Korea has put its planned application to join the CPTPP on hold for the rest of this year.
President Lee Jae-myung instructed relevant ministries not to apply this year and to continue dialogue with farmers and fishers.
The decision follows opposition from agricultural groups, which fear increased market access for foreign farm products could harm domestic producers.
The government had planned to apply this year and discuss the issue at a CPTPP ministerial meeting in November.
Analysts warn that joining could become harder as more countries seek membership, since all existing members must agree.
- Who
- South Korea’s government, following an instruction from President Lee Jae-myung.
- What
- The government has put its planned application to join the CPTPP on hold for this year.
- When
- The instruction was given recently, ahead of the government’s planned application this year.
- Where
- South Korea; the CPTPP includes 12 member countries.
- Why
- The government is prioritizing trust and dialogue with farmers and fishers amid agricultural-sector opposition to market opening.
South Korean agricultural groups
Kim Tae-hwang, professor of international trade at Myongji University
Market opening
South Korean agricultural groups
Agricultural groups fear greater access for agricultural exporters such as Australia and New Zealand could increase harm to domestic farms.
Kim Tae-hwang, professor of international trade at Myongji University
South Korea should address potential harm to agriculture but should not delay membership discussions indefinitely.
Timing
South Korean agricultural groups
The government should prioritize restoring trust and hearing farmers’ and fishers’ concerns before setting a deadline.
Kim Tae-hwang, professor of international trade at Myongji University
South Korea has already fallen behind and should pursue membership sooner.
Above all, restoring trust between the government and farmers and fishers is a priority.
Rather than setting a deadline, he asked that their voices be heard fully and that dialogue continue with sincerity.
South Korea has already fallen behind in joining the CPTPP, and should pursue it before it is too late.
In a situation where the World Trade Organization’s role is weakening and U.S. trade pressure is intensifying, the CPTPP is an important cooperation tool that can complement the multilateral trading system.
The United Kingdom joined the CPTPP as its 12th member.
Costa Rica announced the substantive conclusion of its accession negotiations.
A meeting of South Korea’s ministers for economic affairs decided to begin public discussion of CPTPP membership.
Presidential office spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung relayed President Lee’s instruction to prioritize restoring trust and continue dialogue with farmers and fishers.
President Lee instructed relevant ministries not to apply for CPTPP membership this year.
A CPTPP ministerial meeting is due to discuss South Korea’s membership issue.
- CPTPP membership
- 12 countries
- South Korea’s planned application
- Put on hold for this year
- Accession requirement
- Approval from all existing members
- Next planned ministerial discussion
- November 2026
- New member
- United Kingdom, joined in 2024 as the 12th member
Sources
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