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The government announced that it would apply for membership in the super-large free trade agreement called CPTPP in April. It is an agreement led by Japan to free trade by tying 11 countries around the Pacific Ocean, which account for about 15% of world trade. From the perspective of Korea, where exports are important, it seems like it should be included, but the problem is agricultural, livestock and fishery products. There may be pressure to accept 95% of agricultural products and almost 100% of seafood, and especially Fukushima food in Japan, so pain is expected.
Correspondent Jo Ki-ho.
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government, which has been only complaining about the CPTPP of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, formalized the application for membership in April.
[Hong Nam-ki / Deputy Prime Minister of Economy: Application for membership in CPTPP in April of this year and… ]
The combined trade volume of the 11 countries that have already joined accounts for more than 15% of world trade.
However, the signup process is expected to be painful.
There is strong opposition from farmers and fishermen in the country.
Most of the member countries import more than 95% of agricultural products and 100% of marine products without tariffs, because it is highly likely that we will be required to similar conditions.
[Choi Beom-jin/Director of Policy Coordination Office of the Federation of Agricultural Entrepreneurs: The damage to the agricultural sector will be greater than any FTA that has already been signed.
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Outside of the country, Japan, which is leading the agreement, is also demanding to import agricultural and fishery products from Fukushima.
Taiwan, which has recently applied for membership, is also in the mood to accept this request, so it is a burdensome situation.
In the end, if the application is made in April, the next government will have the task of solving these problems from the beginning of the administration.
(Video coverage: Kim Min-cheol, video editing: Lee Seung-yeol, CG: Seo Seung-hyun)