Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea-Central America reach FTA agreement

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister announced on Thursday that South Korea, the fourth-largest economy in Asia, reached an agreement for a free trade deal with six Central American countries, including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Panama.      It is the first trade pact agreed between Central American countries and an Asian country, the Ministry explained.   Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyung-hwan and his counterparts from those six date2016-11-17

Korea signs trade deal with six Central American countries

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunhwan (center) posed for a photo after signing a Korea-Central America trade  deal on Nov 16 in Managua, Nicaragua. The six Central American countries which agreed their market opening to Korea include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. They agreed to eliminate tariffs on about 95 percent of goods produced from each country for the next 10 years, once the agreement comes into effect next year.   This is t date2016-11-17

Minister Joo pays visit to Nicaraguan president for trade deal

Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (third from right) paid a courtesy visit to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Saavedra  on Nov 15. Minister Joo discussed the Korea-Central America FTA at the final stage of the talks and future directions for Korea-Nicaragua economic cooperation. date2016-11-15

Minister Joo attends 11th trilateral economic and trade ministers' meeting in Tokyo

  Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (right) joined the 11th trilateral economic and trade ministers' meeting with Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Sekou Hiroshige (center) and China's Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng (left) in Tokyo on Oct 29 . The meeting was designed to further enhance the economic and trade relations between the three countries.     The ministers reached a consensus to discourage all forms of the growing protectionism across the g date2016-11-01

Minister Joo talks with USTR Micheal Froman at WTO Ministerial Conference

     Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunhwan (left) met with United State Trade Representative Micheal Froman on Oct 21 during the WTO Ministerial Conference, held in Oslo, Norway, to discuss current trade issues .   One of major agendas on the table was tighter trade environment against Korean steel goods in the U.S. At the talks, Minister Joo raised concerns over the recent U.S. decision to impose anti-dumping duties on Korea-made steel products and aske date2016-10-26

7th round of negotiations for Korea-Central America FTA open in Seoul

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that 7th round of talks for an free trade agreement between Korea and six Central American countries composed of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, was open in Seoul on Oct 24 for a week-day run.    Yeo Han-koo, Ministry's Deptuy Director General of FTA, expressed hope that all parties involved will strive to make progresses for signing a high-level trade pact.   This round of talks will focus date2016-10-24

Central American vice ministers join the 7th round of Korea-Central America FTA talks

     The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Deputy Minister for Trade Negotiations, Kim Hak-do (center), hosted a meeting with vice ministers of six Central American countries, consisting of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Oct 24 in Seoul as a sideline event of the 7th round of the ongoing Korea-Central America FTA negotiations.   Vice ministers in attendance were Jesus Bermudez, Nicaraguan Vice Minister of Development, I date2016-10-24

6th round of Korea-Central America FTA negotiation opens in Managua

    Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry Deputy Director General of FTA Yeo Han-koo (third from left) , who leads the Korean delegate for the Korea-Central America FTA negotiation, posed for a photo with his counterparts from six Central American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama just before the opening of the 6th round  talks on September 26. The latest negotiation was kicked off in Managua, capital city of Nicaragua for a five-day date2016-09-28

Vice Minister Woo and British Minister Mark Price discuss bilateral economic cooperation expansion

     Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Woo Taehee (left) met with Mark Price, British Minister of State for Trade and Investment at the Government Complex Seoul on Sept. 28 to discuss how to expand bilateral economic cooperation between Korea and Britain. This is the first meeting of the two parties since the UK voted to leave the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit vote.   Korea and Britain has nurtured strong economic partnership over the years date2016-09-28

Minister Joo discusses cooperation with Alaska Gov. Bill Walker

  Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan (left) met Alaska Governor Bill Walker (right) at the Government Complex Seoul, on Sept. 23, 2016 and discussed economic cooperation including the Alaska LNG project. date2016-09-23