Government Reviewing CPTPP Membership... Separate from Japanese Seafood Import Restrictions

The government announced on June 16 that it is reviewing the possibility of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is led by Japan. However, it drew a clear line, stating that discussions on joining the CPTPP are a separate matter from the regulatory measures on imports of Japanese seafood.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters at the Government Complex Seoul that day, "Our government is reviewing membership in the CPTPP, considering its strategic and economic importance, but no decision has been made yet."

Earlier, on June 13, Kyodo News reported, citing diplomatic sources, that "the Korean government is coordinating plans to finalize and announce its intention to apply for CPTPP membership by the end of this month."

The CPTPP is a multilateral free trade agreement (FTA) launched in 2018 under Japan's leadership. Membership requires the consent of all 12 member countries, including Japan. Recently, as strategic competition between the United States and China has heightened trade barriers, the need to join the bloc has been raised. The government has considered joining on several occasions in the past, but regulatory hurdles regarding imports of Japanese seafood have repeatedly stood in the way. The government has banned the import of seafood from areas near the nuclear power plant since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "We consider the efforts to join the CPTPP and the regulatory measures on Japanese seafood imports as separate issues," adding, "In order to lift measures that are intended to protect public health and safety, there must first be a restoration of domestic consumer trust in the safety of Japanese seafood." The official also stated, "There have been no discussions on establishing a consultative body between Korea and Japan to lift the seafood import restrictions."

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