Andukgeun, Chief of the Trade Negotiations Headquarters, "Whole-of-Government Collaboration as a 'Trade One Team' Including the Launch of IPEF"

Presiding Over the First Regular Promotion Committee Meeting on the 27th

Anduk Geun, Head of Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is presiding over the "2022 1st Trade and Industry Forum" on the 26th at the Sapphire Ballroom of Lotte Hotel, Sogong-dong, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Ahn Deok-geun, Chief Negotiator for Trade, said on the 27th, "In order to respond swiftly to trade issues covering various fields such as supply chains, technology, health, environment, and labor, it is important to have whole-of-government collaboration as a 'trade one team'."

In his opening remarks at the '27th Trade Promotion Committee' meeting that morning, Chief Ahn stated, "Relevant ministries must work together to ensure there are no setbacks in follow-up measures following the Korea-US summit and the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)." This was Chief Ahn's first Trade Promotion Committee meeting since his appointment.

Chief Ahn added, "The Trade Promotion Committee will fulfill its role as a trusted whole-of-government trade platform," and "We will share global trade issues with relevant ministries and jointly seek response measures."

Regarding the recent Korea-US summit, he evaluated that it was held at a time when the need for global cooperation has increased due to supply chain risks and the pandemic, and that the strategic economic and technological partnership between Korea and the US has been strengthened in addition to the existing security alliance.

To expand the supply chain partnership, Korea and the US plan to utilize the ministerial-level 'Supply Chain and Industry Dialogue' agreed upon between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the US Department of Commerce as the representative platform for supply chain cooperation.

He also announced the progress and future plans regarding the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). For the officially launched IPEF, which includes 13 participating countries such as the US and India, he consulted with relevant ministries on the 추진체계 (promotion system) considering ▲expected agenda items ▲the nature as an economic and trade cooperation body ▲and an efficient decision-making structure.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy expects that by participating in the new economic trade platform IPEF, cooperation with regional countries on new trade agendas such as supply chains, digital, and clean energy will be strengthened, thereby enhancing industrial competitiveness and expanding the entry of Korean companies into the Indo-Pacific region.

Additionally, the current status of discussions and response directions for the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC-12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) were also addressed.

Amid the growing global supply chain and food crises caused by COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the MC-12 is scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from the 12th to the 15th of next month.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, member countries are most interested in agriculture and food crises, as well as COVID-19 response.

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