Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea–U.S. to Strengthen Supply Chain Cooperation Through Standardization

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held the 5th Korea–U.S. Standards Forum on Thursday, December 4, at The Shilla Seoul. The event brought together more than 60 experts from the two countries’ public and private sectors, including the President of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), representatives from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Microsoft. At the forum, Korea and the U.S. presented recent standardization trends in advanced industries, including AI, future mobility, semiconductors, and quantum technology. Experts then gathered in subcommittee meetings to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and lead international standardization efforts. Prior to the forum, KATS and ANSI held their regular bilateral meeting on Wednesday, December 3, to share their five-year national standardization strategies and discuss practical cooperation measures—including enhanced collaboration within international bodies such as ISO and IEC. The forum provided an opportunity to discuss technology standards cooperation that supports the expansion of Korea–U.S. industrial collaboration, following the recent signing of the Strategic Trade and Investment Deal. Both sides affirmed that standards ensuring the interoperability and reliability of advanced technologies are essential to competitiveness and agreed to reinforce joint efforts in global standardization. President Kim Dae-ja of KATS stated, “Strengthening Korea–U.S. standards cooperation in AI, future mobility, and other advanced technologies will generate meaningful synergies in industrial and supply chain cooperation.” He added, “The government will continue expanding standards cooperation with major countries to bolster the global competitiveness of Korean industries.” date2025-12-04

Korea and France Discuss Trade Issues and Industrial Cooperation in Critical Minerals and EVs

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held the 20th Korea–France Industrial Cooperation Committee meeting on Wednesday, December 3, in Sejong, chaired by Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade. Deputy Minister Park met with Thomas Courbe, Director General for Enterprises (DGE) at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, to discuss bilateral cooperation in industry and supply chains and to exchange views on key trade issues related to France and the EU. France is Korea’s third-largest trading partner within the EU, with bilateral trade reaching USD 13.7 billion in 2024. Both exports and imports have increased over the past five years, further deepening economic interdependence. Since the 1990s, the two countries have maintained longstanding government-level cooperation channels—such as the Industrial Cooperation Committee and the Korea–France Forum on Innovative Industries—while private-sector collaboration has also expanded in advanced industries, including automobiles and batteries. The two sides reviewed policies and recent developments related to bilateral cooperation, critical minerals, electric vehicles, and batteries, and discussed ways to deepen cooperation. They underscored the importance of close policy dialogue to strengthen competitiveness in advanced industries. The Korean side also conveyed concerns that the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), the EU’s proposed new steel import measures, and France’s electric vehicle subsidy scheme may act as trade barriers between Korea and the EU by protecting domestic industries. Korea highlighted the need to pursue Korea–EU negotiations on steel TRQs in a cooperative spirit and to establish a more reasonable methodology for calculating carbon-emission factors under France’s EV subsidy program. MOTIR stated that the meeting provided an opportunity to reinforce Korea–France cooperation and discuss key trade issues in depth. The Ministry added that it will continue engaging with France and the EU through high-level and working-level channels to follow up on the issues discussed. date2025-12-03

5th Central Asia Policy Forum

Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), attended the 5th Central Asia Policy Forum held on Tuesday, December 2, at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul.   The event was attended by more than 50 participants from the government, related organizations and associations, companies operating in Central Asia, and academia. Deputy Minister Park also presented ministerial commendations to three individuals who contributed to advancing Korea–Central Asia trade cooperation.   In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Park emphasized that Central Asia is an essential partner for strengthening Korea’s competitiveness in advanced industries and securing strategic resources. He noted that the Government will build country-specific cooperation models by deepening supply chain partnerships for critical minerals, expanding cooperation in energy and plant projects, and improving the investment environment, adding that the forum marks an important milestone in preparations for next year’s inaugural Korea–Central Asia Summit. date2025-12-03

MOTIR Explores Ways to Expand Korea–Central Asia Economic Cooperation

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) held the 5th Central Asia Policy Forum at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on Tuesday, December 2, attended by more than 50 representatives from the government, relevant organizations and associations, companies operating in Central Asia, and academia. This Forum was organized to discuss ways to translate cooperation prospects into tangible outcomes in light of Central Asia’s potential in supply chains grounded in key resources such as energy and minerals, its strategic value as a logistics hub in the Eurasian region, and complementary industrial structures of Korea and Central Asia.  In his opening remarks, Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at MOTIR, noted that “Central Asia is an essential partner in strengthening Korea’s competitiveness in advanced industries and securing strategic resources.” He added that “the government will develop cooperation models tailored to each country’s needs, with a focus on deepening supply chain partnerships for critical minerals, expanding cooperation in energy and plant projects, and improving the investment environment.” He also emphasized that “today’s forum serves as an important milestone in preparing for next year’s inaugural Korea–Central Asia Summit while helping elevate bilateral cooperation to a new stage.” On this occasion, MOTIR presented ministerial commendations to three individuals who contributed to advancing Korea–Central Asia trade cooperation: Lee Dong-eun, Principal Researcher at the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT); Kim Bum-sung, Principal Researcher at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH); and Rukhullo Zikrillaev, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea. date2025-12-02

Meeting with Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of ISED Canada

Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, met with Alexandra Dostal, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), on Monday, December 1, at the reception room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul. The two officials discussed key economic and trade issues between Korea and Canada.   Deputy Minister Park expressed strong regret over Canada’s announcement to tighten TRQ measures and urged their swift withdrawal, noting potential legal concerns and implications for Korean companies’ investments. He also emphasized the two countries’ substantial cooperation potential in sectors such as defense, AI, automobiles, batteries, critical minerals, and energy, and highlighted Korea’s commitment to advancing a reliable and mutually beneficial industrial supply chain with Canada. date2025-12-02

Korea–Serbia Hold First Official CEPA Negotiations

Amid rising global protectionism, the stability of supply chains and access to emerging markets have become increasingly important for Korean companies. Against this backdrop, the first official round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Korea and Serbia—an EU candidate country and a growing manufacturing and logistics hub in the Balkan region—will be held in Seoul from Monday, December 1, to Thursday, December 4. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) announced that more than 60 delegates from both countries will participate in the negotiations. Korea will be represented by Son Ho-young, Acting Director-General for FTA Negotiations, and Serbia by Olivera Jocic, Acting Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade, who will serve as chief negotiators. During this first round, the two sides will discuss ten areas, including tariff concessions, rules of origin, customs procedures, and economic cooperation. Following the September 2024 declaration launching the negotiations, the two governments conducted prior consultations to align the structure of the agreement and the main scope of the discussions. As a result, this round is expected to deliver substantive progress, including setting the scope and level of market opening. Acting Director-General Son stated, “Serbia is a strategic gateway linking markets adjacent to the EU with the Balkan region. With more Korean companies entering Serbia in areas such as electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy, a CEPA with Serbia will play an important role in improving market access and mitigating supply chain risks for Korean businesses.” He added, “The government will work to ensure swift and substantive progress in the negotiations.” date2025-12-01

Korea and Canada Discuss Economic and Trade Issues, Including Canada’s Steel TRQ Measures

Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister Kim Jung-kwan), met with Alexandra Dostal, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), in Seoul on Monday, December 1. The two officials discussed key economic and trade issues between Korea and Canada. Deputy Minister Park expressed strong regret over Canada’s announcement on Wednesday, November 26, to tighten its steel tariff rate quota (TRQ) regime. Under this measure, Canada will reduce the steel import quota allocated to its FTA partners, including Korea, from 100 percent to 75 percent of their 2024 import volumes and impose a 25 percent tariff on steel derivative products. He urged Canada to withdraw the measures swiftly. Deputy Minister Park stressed that “these measures are highly likely to violate trade laws and run counter to the spirit of the Ottawa Group, which Canada leads as a champion of the rules-based multilateral trading system.” He further noted concerns that the measures could have serious implications for Korean companies’ ongoing or planned investments in Canada. He asked that Canada take particular care to avoid undermining opportunities for potential economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Deputy Minister Park also noted that Korea and Canada have substantial cooperation potential across a wide range of sectors—including defense, AI, automobiles, batteries, critical minerals, and energy—and that Korean businesses have been shortlisted for Canada’s submarine procurement project. He expressed hope that the two countries will continue to advance a reliable and mutually beneficial industrial supply chain, given their long-standing roles as leading defenders of the rules-based trading system. date2025-12-01

Korea Diversifies Markets Through Latin America Amid Shifting Global Trade Environment

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister Kim Jung-kwan) held the 29th Korea–Latin America Business Forum on Friday, November 28, at COEX in Seoul, together with the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean and other private sector organizations. The forum brought together diplomatic representatives from 18 Latin American countries in Korea, Korean companies operating in the region, and officials from trade and investment support institutions. Established in 1997, the forum is held annually. This year’s session examined the Latin American business environment in light of global trade shifts following the launch of the Trump administration in the U.S. and explored strategies for Korean companies to expand into high-potential sectors such as digital technologies and infrastructure. Latin America is a major global market with a population of about 690 million and a GDP of roughly USD 7 trillion. The region is also a key source of critical minerals, including lithium and copper, giving it significant potential as a partner for Korea in market diversification and supply chain stability. Since signing its first FTA with Chile in 2004, Korea has expanded its FTA network in the region to eight countries. Over the past two decades, bilateral trade has more than quadrupled, and Korean investment has increased more than twenty-fourfold. In his welcoming remarks, Park Jung-sung, Deputy Minister for Trade at MOTIR, underscored the need for Korea and Latin America to broaden their trade networks and strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and other supply chain issues to ensure sustainable growth amid growing global uncertainty. MOTIR will continue to expand cooperation with Latin American partners through existing resource cooperation platforms and bilateral and multilateral high-level engagements, while actively supporting Korean companies seeking to enter regional markets. date2025-11-28

Korea–EU to Deepen Cooperation on Semiconductors, AI, Future Mobility, Batteries, and Economic Security

Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), met with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy at the European Commission, on Thursday, November 27, in Seoul to discuss ways to deepen strategic cooperation in advanced industries and technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), future mobility, batteries, and supply chains. The meeting took place during Executive Vice-President Virkkunen’s visit to Korea. As the official responsible for the EU’s key priorities—including technology sovereignty, security, and digital transformation—she and Minister Kim underscored the need for joint responses and cooperation in the face of rising protectionism, supply chain disruptions, and other rapidly changing global economic conditions. The two sides recognized the long-standing strategic partnership between Korea and the EU in the economic and technological fields and agreed to elevate cooperation into a future-oriented partnership encompassing economic security and advanced industries. They highlighted that Korea and the EU hold complementary industrial structures in semiconductors—Korea in memory manufacturing and the EU in automotive semiconductors and advanced equipment—and agreed to work closely to ensure supply chain stability amid heightened global uncertainties. The parties also discussed concrete cooperation measures in future-growth industries such as AI, future mobility, and batteries. On AI, Korea shared its plan to develop a Korean version of the Manufacturing-X platform, benchmarking the EU’s industrial data platform of the same name, and proposed cooperation to enhance interoperability in data connectivity and utilization. Korea also emphasized the importance of international standardization for accelerating AI adoption across industries and invited the EU to participate actively in the International AI Standards Summit to be held in Seoul this December. In future mobility, both sides agreed to broaden cooperation in EV transition, charging-infrastructure expansion, and autonomous driving communication and data systems, supporting carbon neutrality goals and climate crisis response. Regarding batteries, Korea explained that domestic companies are strengthening the EU’s advanced battery production capacity and supply chains through investments in the region. Korea requested EU-level interest and support to help expand demand for EU-produced batteries. Korea also conveyed industry concerns about delays in follow-up legislation under the Battery Regulation, asking the EU to consider fairness and consistency with other related policies during the legislative process. The two sides reaffirmed the progress achieved through multilateral platforms such as Eureka and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in advanced technologies and supply chain partnerships. Korea—which became Eureka’s first non-European member when it joined in 2009—has actively pursued cooperation with Europe in ICT, machinery and materials, and biotechnology, and was elected to the Board in 2023. Korea also raised concerns regarding the Czech nuclear FSR investigation and the EU’s proposed new steel import restriction measures, requesting constructive resolution. MOTIR stated that this meeting with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen Korea–EU cooperation in semiconductors, AI, future mobility, and other advanced industries, while enhancing supply chain stability. MOTIR added that it will activate high-level consultation channels based on this meeting and develop the discussed agenda into concrete cooperation projects. date2025-11-28

Meeting with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, met with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy at the European Commission, on Thursday, November 27, in Seoul to discuss ways to deepen strategic cooperation in semiconductors, AI, future mobility, batteries, and supply chains.    During the meeting, Minister Kim and Executive Vice-President Virkkunen emphasized the need for joint responses to rising protectionism and supply chain disruptions and highlighted the importance of building a more resilient and forward-looking Korea–EU partnership. Minister Kim noted that MOTIR will activate high-level consultation channels based on the meeting's outcomes and work to develop the discussed agenda into concrete cooperation projects. date2025-11-28