Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea and Mongolia launch 1st official negotiating round for EPA

Ahn Chang-yong, MOTIE’s Director General for FTA Policy, and Batkhuu Idesh, State Secretary of Mongolia’s Ministry of Economy and Development, headed their respective delegations in the first official negotiating round for Korea-Mongolia EPA on December 18 in Seoul, where they launched negotiations on products, services, investment, economy, development cooperation and digital. date2023-12-19

Korea and Saudi industry ministers discuss economic summit diplomacy outcomes

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Bang Moon Kyu met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef on December 15 in Seoul to review Korea-Saudi economic summit diplomacy outcomes and discuss follow-up measures. The two ministers then attended the ceremony for signing of an MOU between KG Mobility and Saudi National Automobiles Manufacturing Company (SNAM) for collaboration in producing new batches of electric vehicles (EVs), and another between date2023-12-19

Korea and Mongolia launch first official negotiating round for EPA

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on December 18 that the first round of official negotiations for the Korea-Mongolia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will be held through December 18-20 in Seoul. Ahn Chang-yong, MOTIE’s Director General for FTA Policy, and Batkhuu Idesh, State Secretary of Mongolia’s Ministry of Economy and Development, are each heading their respective delegations composed of a total of approximately 100 members from both countries. date2023-12-18

MOTIE to disclose and receive public opinion on Korea-Ecuador SECA draft

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on December 17 that the ministry will disclose on the Korean government's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) website (www.fta.go.kr) both the Korean and English draft versions of the Korea-Ecuador Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) from December 18, 2023, to January 6, 2024, on which the ministry will also receive public opinion. Public opinions are to be received in accordance with MOTIE’s rules on procedural regulations f date2023-12-18

Korea and Saudi Arabia follow up on economic summit diplomacy outcomes for cooperation in EVs and bio

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Bang Moon Kyu met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef on December 15 in Seoul to review Korea-Saudi economic summit diplomacy outcomes and discuss follow-up measures. Minister Alkhorayef is the first Saudi high-level official to visit Korea following the state visit made by President Yoon Suk Yeol in October. During the talks between the two industry ministers, Minister Bang affirmed that the implemen date2023-12-18

Korea spurs support for Uzbekistan's WTO accession

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) held a seminar, joint advisory committee meeting and bilateral negotiations in Tashkent on December 13 for supporting Uzbekistan’s WTO accession. The seminar was attended by approximately 40 persons, including Uzbekistan’s Presidential Office and both countries’ government officials, research institutions and academia experts. The Korean delegation gave a presentation on the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measur date2023-12-13

Korea and EU launch official negotiations for digital trade agreement

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on December 13 that the first official negotiating round for the Korea-EU Digital Trade Agreement will be held through December 13-15 in Brussels, Belgium, the first official negotiating session convened since the declaration on the launch of official negotiations in October, led by Korea’s Minister for Trade Dukgeun Ahn and the European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis. Through the digital trade negotiatio date2023-12-13

Korea and Indonesia to kick CEPA implementation into high gear

Director General for FTA Policy Ahn Chang-yong at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) headed the Korean delegation in the Korea-Indonesia Joint Committee meeting on December 12 in Bali, their first meeting following the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)’s entry into force on January 1 this year. The Korean delegation consisted of representatives from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), Ministry of Oceans and date2023-12-12

Trade ministers' meeting held prior to MC13

Trade, Industry and Energy Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations Roh Keon-ki attended the meeting convened on December 11 via videoconferencing prior to the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO)'s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) to discuss and build consensus on major agenda items with the U.S., China, the UK, India and other member countries. Deputy Minister Roh placed emphasis on the need for recovering the multilateral system through the WTO reform as a message that needs to be shared du date2023-12-12

Korea and GCC to accelerate the advancement of bilateral FTA

Director General for FTA Negotiations Chang Sung-gil at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) is leading the Korean delegation in the chief delegate talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to be held through December 11-13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for advancing negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Korea and the alliance of six Middle Eastern countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The GCC delegation i date2023-12-11