President Lee Directs Halt to CPTPP Application Within This Year: "Engage in Ample Dialogue with Farmers and Fishers"

President Lee Jae-myung has instructed relevant government ministries not to apply for accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) within this year.

The move is seen as taking into account concerns that distrust could deepen if the government unilaterally pushes to join the CPTPP—which is expected to deal a blow to the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors—amid high anxiety among farmers regarding the government's farmland survey.

President Lee gave the instruction on October 8, urging officials, "Do not set a deadline, but listen thoroughly to the voices of farmers and fishers with sincerity and engage in dialogue," according to a written briefing by Senior Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

Senior Spokesperson Kang explained, "There was a discussion on CPTPP accession at the Cabinet meeting on October 6, where opinions were raised that for South Korea's accession to be discussed at the CPTPP ministerial meeting in November, a plan for a public hearing would need to be announced in the official gazette by mid-October at the latest." She added that following discussions on whether to apply, President Lee decided not to submit an application this year.

She also stated, "Amid rapid shifts in the international trade order, the CPTPP is an important option that South Korea, pursuing its goal as a global trading nation, must examine carefully," but added, "However, trade policy is directly tied to the livelihoods of our citizens and must be pursued on the foundation of empathy and consensus with farmers and fishers who are facing hardships."

Kang continued, "Above all, restoring trust between the government and farmers and fishers is the top priority," adding, "Under the principle that no citizen, including farmers and fishers, will be left behind, the sovereign people's government will thoroughly communicate while reviewing the issue of CPTPP accession."

She also reiterated the government's existing stance that "700 billion won, the shortfall from the 1 trillion won Rural Mutual Cooperation Fund promised during the parliamentary ratification of the Korea-China FTA in 2015, will be secured through government fiscal funding."

According to the results of the "Economic Impact Analysis of CPTPP Accession" previously released by relevant ministries including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, joining the CPTPP is projected to increase real gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.38 percentage points over the next 10 years and boost manufacturing production by an annual average of up to 6.7 trillion won over the next 15 years.

However, forecasts have also shown that market opening would inevitably lead to an average annual decline of about 850 billion won in production in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, heightening concerns among workers in the affected fields.

In response, President Lee also instructed officials during the Cabinet meeting on October 6, "Do not rush toward a predetermined conclusion, but engage in dialogue again from square one."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.