Menu Content
Go Top

Economy

Korea to Consider Joining 11-Member CPTPP Trade Bloc: Moon

Written: 2020-12-08 12:03:15Updated: 2020-12-08 18:48:30

Photo : KBS News

President Moon Jae-in has said Korea would look into joining the eleven-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP).

At a ceremony marking Trade Day on Tuesday, Moon raised the possibility of CPTPP membership for the first time, adding global competition and protectionism will likely grow fiercer in the post-COVID-19 era. He underlined market diversification thus must be achieved. 

Formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the renamed CPTPP includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The multilateral trade bloc was signed into existence in 2018, after the U.S. withdrew under orders from the Donald Trump administration. 

While the incoming Joe Biden administration may consider joining the CPTPP, Moon's remarks follow Seoul's signing of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) last month.

This suggests Seoul may join both trade blocs to reduce the threat of being sandwiched between the U.S., a major ally, and China, a major trade partner, amid their trade row.

Moon also pledged to expand the country's free trade network to conclude bilateral deals with Indonesia and Israel within this year and to accelerate negotiations with India, the Philippines, Cambodia and Uzbekistan.

Editor's Pick

Close

This website uses cookies and other technology to enhance quality of service. Continuous usage of the website will be considered as giving consent to the application of such technology and the policy of KBS. For further details >