Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Trade Minister to visit U.S. in time for Korea-U.S. FTA 10th Anniversary

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and a parliamentary delegation will visit the U.S. on March 14-18 (local time) in commemoration of the Korea-U.S. FTA 10th Anniversary, with plans to meet with various U.S. government officials, lawmakers, and entrepreneurs. The Korea-U.S. FTA is deemed to have mutually benefited both sides in terms of trade and investment growth, and is seen to have been the core foundation on which the two nations’ economic cooperation strengthened over the last decade. Korea date2022-03-14

Industrial Digital Transformation (DX) Task Force is launched

  Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Moon Sung-wook announced on March 7 the launching of the “Industrial Digital Transformation (DX) Task Force” for a coordinated push to effectuate a digital transition across industry sectors. The aim of this move is to swiftly roll out the details settled under the “Special Act to Accelerate Industrial Digital Transformation” passed by the national assembly last December, set for enforcement on July 5, in order to accelerate t date2022-03-11

Korea and Ecuador agree to resume SECA negotiations

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held online talks with Ecuador’s Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries Minister Julio José Prado on Mar 2 in Mexico City to hold a virtual signing ceremony for resuming the Korea-Ecuador Strategic Economic Complementation Agreement (SECA) negotiations after a 5-year hiatus. The trade chiefs addressed the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Ecuador diplomatic relations, and agreed to put in efforts for reaching a SECA agreement by date2022-03-08

Korea and Mexico agree to resume FTA talks

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held talks with Mexican Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier on Mar 1 in Mexico City and agreed to resume the two countries’ halted FTA talks after a 14-year hiatus, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Korea-Mexico diplomatic relations. Korea and Mexico presently share the same concerns over the rising risks of global supply chains from COVID-19 and the Ukraine situation, but anticipate that a bilateral FTA will act as a strategic l date2022-03-07

Korea’s exports expand 20.6% to $53.9 billion in February

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 1 that Korea’s export value went up 20.6 percent to USD 53.9 billion in February. Imports also increased 25.1 percent to $53.1 billion. The trade balance stood at a surplus of $0.8 billion, faring positive despite high imports from soaring energy prices. Despite rising raw material prices and Russia-Ukraine escalations, February’s trade balance achieved a much better performance compared to January’s, rising by $5.7 date2022-03-02

Trade Minister holds pan-ministerial 25th Trade Committee Meeting

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held the pan-ministerial 25th Trade Committee Meeting in Government Complex Seoul on February 24 to discuss response measures in light of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, changing landscape of the Asia-Pacific region’s trade order, and future pursuits for digital trade partnerships. The trade chief stressed the following two points at the beginning of the meeting. One is that the meeting aims to assess the impact of Russia-Ukraine situation on the region’s real date2022-02-28

Korea’s retail sales post 13.9% year-on-year growth in January

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on February 25 that Korea’s retail sales in January posted a 13.9 percent year-on-year growth. Offline sales jumped 18.4 percent, while online sales rose 9.1 percent. The Ministry releases monthly retail sales figures based on surveys of 25 major retailers. 13 of them are brick-and-mortar retailers: three hypermarket chains, three department store chains, three convenience store chains, and four “super supermarket” (SSM) op date2022-02-28

Korea and Indonesia sign MOUs for expanding supply chain cooperation

Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Moon Sung-wook visited Jakarta, Indonesia through 20-22 of February to hold the Korea-Indonesia Business Forum and raw materials supply chain cooperation with his Indonesian counterparts. One of the goals of this visit was to review the progress made so far since President Moon Jae-in’s state visit in 2017, during which Indonesia expressed commitment to the New Southern Policy. Moreover, the meeting was substantial as it strengthened the cooperation ba date2022-02-24