Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

First negotiation talks for the FTA to be held between Korea and six South American countries

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 21 that the first negotiation talks for the FTA between South Korea, El Salvador, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua are to be held from September 21 to 25 in Seoul.     The negotiation talks were scheduled and announced in June this year with the aim to achieve a "qualitative and comprehensive FTA", and a preliminary negotiation talks were held in July in order to specify minor regulations to be added in the agreement.     In the first negotiation talks, representatives from the six countries will share opinions on a total of 9 areas and 15 chapters including products, trade aid, country of origin and customs clearance.     The 6 South American countries have a high growth potential as they rank high both in GDP and population, and goods traded between South Korea and these countries amounted to $ 5 billion in 2014. The FTA is expected to help diversify economic cooperation between the countries.     * Short version date2015-09-21

Mobile factory for door-to-door 3D printing services to become available

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 18 at KICOX that it can send vehicles mounted with a 3D printer to industrial complexes to produce prototypes, provide technical assistance and offer basic training on 3D printing for the businesses within the complex.     The 3D printing vehicles will be dispatched to various industrial complexes throughout the country in each quarter to provide a wide range of 3D printing services. However, due to limited equipment, manpower and time, industrial complexes must apply for the service at www.kamic.or.kr.     Many businesses are now interested in 3D printing since it can be used to produce complicated structures that are hard to manufacture and produce small quantities of various types of products, but are still hesitant to actually add one to their production line because of the high price and lack of application skills.     In order to promote the application of 3D printers and further upgrade manufacturing technology, MOTIE and local businesses made joint efforts to build a manufacturing center in Ansan, Daejeon and then in Changwon in July last year, and they'll continue to build more in Iksan, Gumi and Gangneung next year.     * Short version date2015-09-18

School backpacks found to be 294 times more toxic than they should be

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 15 that according to a recent safety test, some school backpacks use 294 times more phthalate plasticizer, an endocrine disrupting chemical, than allowed.     The test conducted by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards on 334 most-sold products in autumn showed that 7 of the school backpacks have exceeded the safety standards on phthalate plasticizer and cadmium, and the agency ordered a recall of the school backpacks.     The test also showed that one color pencil model also contained too much lead, and one pencil case model had too much phthalate plasticizer. Other products that were recalled include two wheeled walker models for the elderly because they can tip over too easily.     Meanwhile, all portable lawn trimmers passed the safety test.     KATS provides the list of recently recalled products at www.safetykorea.kr, and added product barcodes to the sales blocking system so that they can't be sold at large supermarkets throughout Korea.     * Short version date2015-09-15

2015 ISO Plenary Meeting to be held in Seoul with 162 countries participating

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 14 that the 2015 ISO Plenary Meeting was held from September 14 to 18 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul with the participation of over 700 people from 162 countries.     Along with the IEC and ITU, the ISO has the largest number of standards in various areas.     It's Korea's first time hosting the plenary meeting since it joined the ISO in 1963, where issues such as international standardization policies, strategies between 2016 and 2020 and advantages of standards will be discussed at the meeting.     On the last day of the event, the participants will have a tour of Samsung Electronics and Amore Pacific to see Korean exporter's technology and standard cases.     The ISO is dedicated to develop standards for various areas so that standards can be applied at anytime, anywhere, and South Korea proposes an average of 78 standards a year as one of the 20 ISO Council members that ranks 9th in ISO evaluation.   * Short version date2015-09-14

Samsung Electronics to transfer proprietary technologies to SME's for free

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced on September 07 that Samsung Electronics will transfer its 2,987 proprietary technologies to SME's for free.     The MOTIE has been promoting technology sharing since 2013 for SME's to improve their competitiveness by making good use of the technologies that are not currently being applied with the cooperation of large corporations, and it's Samsung Electronics' turn to share.   Among the 2,987 technologies that Samsung Electronics decided to release, the MOTIE will first share the 818 technologies related to audio, video and mobile devices with SME's since they're the ones that can most easily be applied on the SME's products.     SME's can apply for technology transfer by mail or visiting the Ministry in person by October 6, 2015, after checking the list and details at National Tech-Bank (www.ntb.kr).     The MOTIE will also offer one-on-one consultation services after holding the "Technology Transfer Forum at Site" on September 16, 2015 in order to help SME's better understand the system of technology sharing.     * Short version date2015-09-07

Export and Import Trends for August 2015

    □ Korea’s exports fell 14.7 percent to $39.3 billion and imports decreased 18.3 percent to $35.0 billion in August from a year earlier, resulting in a trade surplus, for the 43 consecutive month, of $4.3 billion.   □ By product, shipments of major export items including those sensitive to oil price changes decreased, while exports of new items increased. Shipments of petrochemical and petro products, ships and automobiles, and general machinery fell. Shipments of mobile telecommunication devices and semiconductors showed an increase, as well as new competitive products such as OLEDs (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) and cosmetics. By region, exports to most regions excluding Vietnam fell. - Exports to Vietnam sharply increased from a year earlier, but those to China decreased as a result of the explosions at the Port of Tianjin and decreased demand for imports. - The unit prices of major export items fell due to a drop in oil prices and excess supply, while the volume continued to increase for the third consecutive month.   □ The unit prices of major raw materials decreased, but imports of capital and consumer products jumped.   □ ○ In August, exports showed their biggest monthly declinethis year due to the drop in oil prices, a delay in the delivery of drill ships, and the explosions at the Port of Tianjin, China.   ○ Export growth is expected to improve thanks to increased ship delivery and the launch of new automobiles from the fourth quarter of this year.   date2015-09-04

ICT Export and Import Trends, July 2015

  □ South Korean exports of information and communications technology (ICT) products decreased by 3.9 percent to USD 13.71 billion in July from the same time a year before. Imports rose by 5.8 percent to USD 7.57 billion, resulting in a USD 6.14 billion trade surplus.   □ ICT exports decreased for the first time in last three months. Exports of semiconductors grew, while those of displays, cell phones, computers and peripherals, and D-TV decreased. Shipments of cell phones decreased due to intensified global competition and expansion of overseas production. Exports of computers and peripherals fell due to decrease in peripherals exports caused by weak sales of secondary memory units. It turned to downward trend for the first time in five months. Exports to China and the ASEAN countries rose, while those to the EU and the US declined.   □ Imports of most key items increased, except for computers and peripherals. Imports of cell phones skyrocketed due to a growing volume of foreign-made smartphones and cell phone components being re-imported from abroad. Imports from China, the US, and Taiwan increased while those from Japan, EU and the ASEAN countries   □ o South Korea’s total volume of ICT exports is relatively great compared to other main advanced countries; however, foreign conditions such as slowdowns in trades and fall in growth estimates are taking place and seem to persist. Also, July was the first month ICT exports fell since April. The only positive sign was the continuous increase in semiconductors exports.   date2015-08-30

Major Retailers Sales Trends in July 2015

  □ In July 2015, sales by major retailers, including those of department stores and convenience stores, rose from a year earlier, while those of hypermarkets and super supermarkets fell marginally.   □ By retailer, sales by department stores rose, following an increase in the sales of home appliances and overseas renowned brands. Sales by convenience stores also increased significantly for six consecutive months, following a rise in the number of convenience stores and tobacco sales, resulting in a growth of 26.2 percent on average. On the contrary, the sales of hypermarkets and SSMs decreased due to a drop in sales of non-food items.   □By product group, the sales of food, household articles, and tobacco rose while those of miscellaneous goods and clothing fell.   □ While sales by hypermarkets and department stores decreased sharply in June due to the MERS outbreak, their sales growth recovered to a three-month average before the outbreak in July. The sales of convenience stores and SSMs were not greatly influenced.   date2015-08-30