Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Minister Joo meets with US counterpart

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (right) poses with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in Washington on March 8, 2017 (local time).    Korea's trade minister met his new U.S. counterpart during his outreach trip to the U.S., designed to build a channel for economic cooperation and bilateral communication under Donald Trump's administration.  date2017-03-09

Vice Minister Woo discusses economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Economy and Planning Minister

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Woo Taehee (right) posed for a photo with Saudi Arabian Minister of Economy and Planning Adel M. Fakeih during their meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on March 9. Vice Minister Woo and Minister Fakeih discussed bilateral cooperation in the field of energy resources as well as on Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s new roadmap for development. Saudi Arabia is the leading supplier of crude oil to Korea and the largest overseas market for the Korean cons date2017-03-09

RCEP members agree to accelerate negotiations

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 6 that Korea and 15 trading partners have agreed at the 17th round of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to accelerate negotiations in the first half of this year. The latest talks was held in Kobe, Japan between February 27 and March 3. The RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement among 16 nations in the Asia Pacific region including Korea, China, Japan and 10 member states of the Association of date2017-03-06

Korea, MERCOSUR sign joint statement for launch of trade agreement negotiations

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 3 that Korea and Mercado Común del Sur (MERCOSUR) signed on March 2 a joint statement facilitating the launch of official negotiations for a multilateral trade agreement between Korea and four South American nations in the first half of this year.   During his visit to Buenos Aires, Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan signed the joint statement with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Susana Malcorra of date2017-03-03

Minister Joo co-chairs Korea-Argentina energy cooperation committee meeting

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (right) posed for a photo with Argentine Energy and Mining Minister Juan José Aranguren at the third meeting of the Korea-Argentina Energy Resources Cooperation Committee held in Buenos Aires on March 3. Minister Joo and Minister Aranguren chaired the committee meeting and discussed cooperation in various energy fields including nuclear energy, mineral resources and renewable energy.  Minister Joo visited Argentina between March 2 an date2017-03-03

Korea, MERCOSUR sign joint statement for launch of trade pact negotiations

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (left) posed for a photo with Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Susana Malcorra in Buenos Aires on March 2, after signing a joint statement for the launch of official negotiations on a multilateral trade agreement between Korean and four member states of Mercado Común del Sur (MERCOSUR).  By signing the joint statement, Korea and MERCOSUR announced both sides have agreed to commence their internal procedures in the fi date2017-03-02

Korea, Argentina host 1st meeting of industrial cooperation committee

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (right) and Argentine Production Minister Francisco Cabrera signed a memorandum of understanding on a dialogue channel for bilateral trade and investment during the first meeting of the Korea-Argentina Industrial Cooperation Committee in Buenos Aires on March 2. The delegations of the two countries agreed to cooperate on high value-added defense areas as well as on infrastructure.  The Korea-Argentina Industrial Cooperation Committee was se date2017-03-02

17th round of RCEP negotiations kick off in Japan

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the 17th round of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) kicked off in Kobe, Japan, on February 27, to accelerate talks on market access for goods, services and investment.   The RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement among 16 nations in the Asia Pacific region including Korea, China, Japan and 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has become increasingly imp date2017-02-27

Korea-UK trade working group discusses post-Brexit cooperation

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on February 24 that the Ministry and a delegation from the United Kingdom convened a first meeting of the Korea-UK Trade Working Group in Seoul to discuss bilateral economic cooperation after the UK’s exit from the European Union.   The first meeting of the working group, which was set up to ensure a continued and strengthened bilateral trade relations, was co-chaired by Director-General for FTA Negotiations and East Asia FTA Yoo date2017-02-24

Minister Joo meets the Philippines’ Trade Secretary

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (third from left) posed for a photo with the Philippines’ Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez (third from right) during the first meeting of the Korea-Philippines Economic Cooperation Joint Committee in Manila, on February 13. Minister Joo and Secretary Lopez discussed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a proposed free trade agreement between the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) an date2017-02-14