Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Amid rising global protectionism, supply chain stability 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, 2025.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) 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 of talks, 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 scope of key issues. This round is expected to deliver substantive progress, including determining the level and extent 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, the Korea⁠–Serbia CEPA will greatly enhance market access and mitigate supply chain risks for Korean businesses.” He added, “The government will pursue swift and substantive progress in the negotiations.”