Government "Close Support for Companies Facing Difficulties Ahead of RCEP and CEPA Implementation"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The government has decided to closely address the difficulties faced by companies ahead of the enforcement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Korea-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

On the 25th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the "16th Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Implementation and Utilization Related Agencies Council" at the Korea International Trade Association in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The meeting was chaired by Moon Dongmin, Director General of the Trade and Investment Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and attended by government ministries including the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Customs Service, five related organizations such as the Korea International Trade Association and KOTRA, and 13 industry-specific associations and groups.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it would actively identify and resolve difficulties faced by companies in cooperation with related organizations in preparation for the enforcement of major FTAs such as RCEP and Korea-Indonesia CEPA. They plan to provide close support for receiving companies’ complaints, feedback on processing results, and history management, while selecting key industries for regional support to link complaint consultations with on-site consulting.

Additionally, measures to enhance export companies’ responsiveness, such as training for current employees to improve origin certification management capabilities and distribution of dedicated programs, will also be promoted.

From the industrial sector, the Korea Petroleum Association, Korea Nonferrous Metals Association, Korea Electronics and Information Communication Industry Promotion Association, and Korea Food Industry Association requested the government to improve the alignment of origin certificate formats and post-verification directions with counterpart countries. Furthermore, the Korea Machinery Industry Promotion Association requested relaxation of origin determination criteria under the Korea-Indonesia CEPA, the Korea Petroleum Association requested promotion of the Korea-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) FTA, and the Korea Chemical Fibers Association and Korea Federation of Textile Industries requested government responses to Turkey’s anti-dumping investigation on Korean products.

Regarding the industry’s requests, the government stated that it will immediately take action on matters that can be improved and will cooperate with relevant departments or agencies to advance issues requiring negotiations with counterpart countries.

For Turkey’s anti-dumping investigation, the government plans to respond jointly through submission of opinion letters and participation in public hearings.

Moon Dongmin, Director General of the Trade and Investment Office, said, "To ensure that our companies do not face difficulties in utilizing the newly enforced FTAs, associations, organizations, related agencies, and the government will closely cooperate to actively provide relevant information and consultation support."

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