Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Ministry to support nuclear reactor exports

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on October 10 that the Ministry will strongly support the domestic industries’ bid to export nuclear reactors.    On October 10, Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Paik Ungyu presided a “nuclear export strategy consultative meeting” with industry representatives in downtown Seoul to discuss the international market environment for reactor sales, strategies for potential markets, and measures to reduce financial date2017-10-10

2nd special session of KORUS FTA Joint Committee held in Washington DC

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the Ministry and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) convened the second session of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) Joint Committee on October 4 in Washington, D.C. to continue discussions on the bilateral trade deal.    Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer co-chaired the special session of the Joint Committee established under the KORUS FTA. Trade Minister Kim date2017-10-05

Korea’s exports hit a record $55.1 billion in September

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on October 1 that Korea’s exports reached an all-time high of USD 55.1 billion in September, soaring 35 percent from a year earlier.   The strongest performance since the Korean government started tracking trade data in 1956 was achieved as exports of semiconductors and steel hit record highs and various sectors posted double-digit growths in exports.    The growth rate is the highest in 80 months since January 2011, a date2017-10-01

Fast growing e-commerce boosts retail sales by 4.3% in August

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 29 that retail sales increased 4.3 percent to 9.81 trillion won in August on a double-digit growth in online revenues.   Online sales, which account for about a third of the total retail sales, jumped 13.1 percent from a year earlier, while in-store revenues inched up 0.4 percent.    Web-based sales returned to a double-digit year-on-year growth after recording a 4.4-percent increase in July. In-store sales grew date2017-09-29

ASEM economic ministers voice support for free, multilateral trade system

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 22 that members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) voiced their support for free trade and multilateral trade regime at the seventh ASEM Economic Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM EMM) in Seoul.    Economic ministers and high-level officials from the 51 ASEM members adopted a joint statement that supports multilateral trade system and calls for joint response to protectionism. The statement also urged ASEM members to make date2017-09-22

Korean, US trade ministers meet in Washington DC

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong met with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer on September 20 in Washington D.C. to discuss the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).    During the meeting, the Korean side proposed a second special session of the Joint Committee under the KORUS FTA to continue talks on matters discussed in the first special session held on August 22 in Seoul.    Based on date2017-09-20

Korea to host 2019 International Renewable Energy Conference

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 15 that Korea won the bid to host the 2019 International Renewable Energy Conference (IREC).   During the 2017 IREC in Mexico, the steering committee of REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) chose Korea as the next host over strong competitors for the country’s energy transition policy with a focus on renewable energy. Korea is the first Asian country that officially declared gradual shi date2017-09-15

ICT exports hit all-time high in August, up nearly 24%

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 13 that exports of information and communication technology (ICT) goods hit all-time high in August, rising 23.9 percent to USD 17.5 billion from a year ago on record semiconductor sales.    Exports in the ICT sector advanced for 10 consecutive months and at a double digit rate for 9 straight months. For seven consecutive months, ICT exports set a new record for each month.    Imports of ICT goods 13.3 perc date2017-09-13