Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

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.”