Muheop FTA Comprehensive Support Center Launches 'Comprehensive Consulting on Non-Tariff Barriers'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The Korea International Trade Association's FTA Comprehensive Support Center announced on the 11th that it has jointly launched a 'Comprehensive Consulting on Non-Tariff Barriers' with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

This service was introduced to alleviate difficulties faced by our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies regarding overseas certification and intellectual property rights, as protectionism has been spreading mainly in advanced countries such as the United States, China, and Europe, and trade restrictive measures using non-tariff barriers have increased. Last year, the number of trade technical barriers (TBT) notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by countries around the world reached a record high of 3,337 cases, an 8.9% increase from the previous year.

Companies wishing to receive consulting can call the FTA Comprehensive Support Center (without area code, 1380) to have ongoing consultations with experts such as patent attorneys, and if necessary, they can also apply for in-depth consulting with direct visits to the companies. A non-tariff barrier information provision service and a pilot project to support overseas certification acquisition are also planned to be promoted within this year.

Kim Hyung-joo, Director of Domestic Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "From last year's export restrictions by Japan to this year's novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the external environment for export companies has been continuously deteriorating," adding, "In particular, we will prepare support measures so that experts in each field at the FTA Comprehensive Support Center can directly listen to and provide customized support for various non-tariff barriers faced by our companies in overseas markets."

Han Jin-hyun, head of the KITA FTA Comprehensive Support Center, said, "With the launch of this service, the FTA Comprehensive Support Center has evolved into a one-stop place that solves not only tariff benefits consultation by country and product under free trade agreements (FTAs) and suggestions for FTA system improvements but also non-tariff difficulties," adding, "As non-tariff barriers in various countries are expected to rise further after the pandemic, we will actively strive to help our companies prepare for the post-COVID-19 era."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.