Jeong Hwang-geun "CPTPP, Significant Damage to Agriculture Sector... Need for Cautious Approach and Support Measures"

Jeong Hwang-geun, nominee for Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is answering questions from lawmakers at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 6th. 2022.5.6 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Son Seon-hee] Jeong Hwang-geun, nominee for Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, regarding the government's push for comprehensive and progressive membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), said on the 6th, "The scale of damage to the agricultural sector will increase," adding, "we must approach this very cautiously."

Jeong stated this during the confirmation hearing at the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee in response to a question about the CPTPP from Park Deok-heum, a member of the People Power Party. Jeong expressed concern, saying, "(Upon joining the CPTPP) the government announced that the agricultural sector could suffer damages up to 440 billion won due to tariff elimination on goods, and considering China's accession and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) agreement norms, the scale of damage is expected to increase significantly."

He emphasized, "If it is decided that joining is inevitable from a national interest perspective, close communication with farmers and corresponding support measures must necessarily follow."

The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement (FTA) formed by 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan and Australia, accounting for 15.2% of global trade volume as of 2019. The government has effectively finalized its policy to join the CPTPP and is proceeding with related procedures.

Meanwhile, Jeong expressed opposition to the mandatory market isolation (government purchase) of overproduced rice. He said, "Since mandatory measures could have negative effects, careful consideration is necessary."

Regarding the agricultural (public interest) direct payment system, he acknowledged, "The current government played a significant role in establishing the framework of the public interest direct payment system," but pointed out, "The amount received by each farm household is not sufficient." Furthermore, he stressed, "Since the current national agenda specifies a target figure of '5 trillion won,' we will do our best to secure additional budgets or restructure internal budgets to expand agricultural direct payments."

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