Lee orders renewed discussions on possible membership to CPTPP

President Lee Jae Myung has ordered government officials to restart discussions about South Korea's potential membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Tuesday, amid concerns raised by farmers and fishermen. The president made this directive during an exclusive Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, where he referred to the significant Indo-Pacific trade agreement that includes 12 countries such as Japan, Mexico, Australia, Canada, and Vietnam. Collectively, these nations represented around 15.2% of global trade in 2019.

President Lee acknowledged differing opinions on the strategic value of the CPTPP in the current era of significant changes in the international trade landscape. Some believe the agreement holds great strategic importance, while others, particularly those from the farming and fishing industries, have expressed strong reservations.

In response to these conflicting viewpoints, the president emphasized that policy decisions should be made by carefully considering national interests, founded on trust and shared understanding among all stakeholders, including farmers and fishermen. He then ordered the government to begin the discussions anew, without any sense of urgency or predetermined outcome.