Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea and Ecuador agree to resume SECA negotiations

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held online talks with Ecuador’s Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries Minister Julio José Prado on Mar 2 in Mexico City to hold a virtual signing ceremony for resuming the Korea-Ecuador Strategic Economic Complementation Agreement (SECA) negotiations after a 5-year hiatus. The trade chiefs addressed the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Ecuador diplomatic relations, and agreed to put in efforts for reaching a SECA agreement by date2022-03-08

Korea and Mexico agree to resume FTA talks

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held talks with Mexican Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier on Mar 1 in Mexico City and agreed to resume the two countries’ halted FTA talks after a 14-year hiatus, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Korea-Mexico diplomatic relations. Korea and Mexico presently share the same concerns over the rising risks of global supply chains from COVID-19 and the Ukraine situation, but anticipate that a bilateral FTA will act as a strategic l date2022-03-07

Korea’s exports expand 20.6% to $53.9 billion in February

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 1 that Korea’s export value went up 20.6 percent to USD 53.9 billion in February. Imports also increased 25.1 percent to $53.1 billion. The trade balance stood at a surplus of $0.8 billion, faring positive despite high imports from soaring energy prices. Despite rising raw material prices and Russia-Ukraine escalations, February’s trade balance achieved a much better performance compared to January’s, rising by $5.7 date2022-03-02

Trade Minister holds pan-ministerial 25th Trade Committee Meeting

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held the pan-ministerial 25th Trade Committee Meeting in Government Complex Seoul on February 24 to discuss response measures in light of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, changing landscape of the Asia-Pacific region’s trade order, and future pursuits for digital trade partnerships. The trade chief stressed the following two points at the beginning of the meeting. One is that the meeting aims to assess the impact of Russia-Ukraine situation on the region’s real date2022-02-28

Korea’s retail sales post 13.9% year-on-year growth in January

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on February 25 that Korea’s retail sales in January posted a 13.9 percent year-on-year growth. Offline sales jumped 18.4 percent, while online sales rose 9.1 percent. The Ministry releases monthly retail sales figures based on surveys of 25 major retailers. 13 of them are brick-and-mortar retailers: three hypermarket chains, three department store chains, three convenience store chains, and four “super supermarket” (SSM) op date2022-02-28

Korea and Indonesia sign MOUs for expanding supply chain cooperation

Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Moon Sung-wook visited Jakarta, Indonesia through 20-22 of February to hold the Korea-Indonesia Business Forum and raw materials supply chain cooperation with his Indonesian counterparts. One of the goals of this visit was to review the progress made so far since President Moon Jae-in’s state visit in 2017, during which Indonesia expressed commitment to the New Southern Policy. Moreover, the meeting was substantial as it strengthened the cooperation ba date2022-02-24

Minister Moon attends Dialogue with Foreign-Invested Companies

Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Moon Sung-wook attended the Dialogue with Foreign-Invested Companies presided by President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House on February 17, where representatives of Chambers of Commerce, foreign-invested companies, government officials, and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) gathered under the theme of “K Dream,” promoting win-win growth of Korea’s economy and foreign-invested companies. The event was convened amidst Korea’s date2022-02-22

MOTIE leads public-private joint efforts amid global chip race

Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Moon Sung-wook attended the Semiconductor Investment Promotion Conference at the Lotte Hotel Seoul on February 16, held to strengthen the semiconductor industry supply chain and bring about an innovation across Korean companies’ competitiveness landscape. Addressing the rising uncertainties in view of the recent supply chain realignment, Russia-Ukraine geopolitical risk, raw materials price surge, and natural disasters from climate change, attendees ag date2022-02-21