Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Full-Scale Discussion Begins on Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific Region

Full-Scale Discussion Begins on Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific Region Deputy Minister for Trade Lee Inho Attends Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade   Deputy Minister for Trade Lee Inho, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, attended the 22nd Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade held in Arequipa, Peru, from May 17 to 18, 2016. Representatives from 21 APEC member nations discussed pending issues of multilateral trade, including Asia-Pacific economic integration date2016-05-16

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to Strengthen Cooperation with Jiangsu, Largest Investment Area in China for Domestic Companies

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to Strengthen Cooperation with Jiangsu, Largest Investment Area in China for Domestic Companies   Memorandum of Understanding Reached to Strengthen Economic and Trade Cooperation between Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jiangsu   Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyunghwan and Governor of Jiangsu Province Shi Taifeng met in Seoul on May 9 to discuss ways to vitalize trade and investment between Korea and Jiangsu before signing a date2016-05-09

Sectoral implementing agencies working in full capacity to ensure the success of the South Korea–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement

Sectoral implementing agencies working in full capacity to ensure the success of the South Korea–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement   First working-level talks of the Commodity Trading Commission, Economic Cooperation Committee, SPS Committee, and Investment Commission   The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Joo Hyunghwan) is holding a meeting with four of the implementing agencies of the South Korea–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for two days from April 11 to date2016-04-10

ROK, China and Japan Hold 9th Round of FTA Talks

  The Republic of Korea, China and Japan held the ninth round of high-level negotiations for their free trade agreement (FTA) in Tokyo today.   During the talks, the ROK's Deputy Trade Minister Kim Hak-do and his Chinese and Japanese counterparts discussed details of the trilateral FTA. date2016-01-18

South Korea's FTAs with China, Vietnam and New Zealand Take Effect December 20

    The Republic of Korea (South Korea)'s free trade agreements with China, Vietnam and New Zealand went into effect on December 20.   The new FTAs came into force as South Korea steps up efforts to reinvigorate its economy amid slowing global demand and low oil prices. date2015-12-24

MOTIE 2nd VM Moon Attends WTO's 10th Ministerial Meeting

    MOTIE 2nd VM Moon Attends WTO's 10th Ministerial Meeting   The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE)'s Second Vice Minister Moon Jae-do attended the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s 10th ministerial conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, from Dec. 15 to Dec. 19.   In a keynote speech at this year's gathering, VM Moon stressed the importance of the multilateral trade system of the WTO for the national economic growth and development of its member countries. date2015-12-24

Korean students to intern in the UAE

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on December 22 that Korean college students will intern at the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) during the winter vacation this year.     A total of 27 nuclear engineering majors at 10 different universities will have the opportunity to have real job experience at the headquarters of ENEC in Abu Dhabi and nuclear power plant construction site in Barakah from January 3 to February 18, 2016.     The ENEC Int date2015-12-22

ROK-Vietnam FTA to Take Effect Dec. 20

      The bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Vietnam will go into effect next week.   The two countries exchanged a diplomatic document to officially implement their FTA from December 20.   The FTA will open up 94.7 percent of the Korea's market and 92.4 percent of the Vietnamese market in terms of import volume.   Vietnam is South Korea's third-biggest export market after China (including Hong Kong) and the United States. date2015-12-16

South Korea and Peru Seek to Strengthen Industrial and Energy Cooperation

South Korea and Peru Seek to Strengthen Industrial and Energy Cooperation   The Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Peru are seeking to strengthen bilateral cooperation in promoting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and e-commerce as well as energy-related projects.   The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE)'s Deputy Trade Minister Woo Tae-hee led a Korean delegation to hold bilateral committee meetings on industrial and energy cooperation in Lima, Peru, last week. date2015-12-16

Korea-Vietnam FTA to come into effect on December 20

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on December 16 that the FTA between Korea and Vietnam will come into effect on December 20.     Thanks to the FTA with Vietnam, which is Korea's third largest consumer, Korean businesses are expected to have enhanced price competitiveness in the Vietnamese market.     Customs duties will be reduced on December 20, 2015 and again on January 1, 2016, which will increase Korean exports to Vietnam.     For instance, the 25 percent tax levied on juice blenders would have been removed in 2020 if the FTA were put in force next year, but it will be removed from 2019 if it is put in force this year.     Vietnam is Korea's third largest consumer after the US and China. This FTA is also seen to increase the level of investor protection in the country.     Furthermore, the high-level investment protection policies are expected to help create a more stable investment environment than the Korea-ASEAN FTA, which included guarantee of remittance and suitable compensation.     * Short version date2015-12-16