South Korea delays CPTPP accession further
President Lee Jae-myung says joining during his term is probably unfeasible because of concerns in the agricultural sector.
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South Korea is unlikely to join the CPTPP during President Lee Jae-myung’s current term, according to the president. He spoke to farmers and fishers on Monday about joining the trade agreement, which has twelve members.
Lee made the statement during a meeting with farmers and fishers. According to Reuters, he said South Korea was more likely to be unable to complete the accession process before the end of his term in June 2030.
The CPTPP is a trade agreement covering the Pacific Rim. The agreement came into force in 2018 and has twelve members, including Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. South Korea is not a member but has previously expressed interest in joining.
Farmers and fishers in particular fear additional competition if South Korea further lowers import restrictions. Earlier this month, Lee told ministers that an application should not be pursued this year. On Monday, he tried to retain support for his agricultural policy through a direct discussion with representatives of the sector.
The decision is also important for European companies. South Korea is a major industrial economy with strong positions in cars, electronics, shipbuilding and chemicals. Joining could change competition and trading conditions in the region, but the delay means that such changes will not occur for the time being.
The statement is not a formal rejection of the CPTPP. Lee left open the possibility of a later application, while the government first seeks to address concerns about agriculture and fishing.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- South Korea is not a CPTPP member.
- The president says joining during his term is unlikely to happen.
- Agriculture and fishing are opposing possible harm from additional competition.
Left
Arguments Wants trade liberalisation to be linked to protection for farmers, fishers and regions that benefit less from international trade.
Values Social protection, regional equality and food security.
Consequences Warns of income loss and further depopulation of rural areas.
Centre
Arguments Sees joining the CPTPP as an economic option, but only after compensation, transitional arrangements and broad support.
Values Gradual reform, feasibility and institutional prudence.
Consequences Expects the delay to allow time for negotiations, but also to result in missed export opportunities.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that South Korea needs access to new markets and that protecting sectors can slow innovation.
Values Free trade, competition and economic growth.
Consequences Fears that a prolonged delay will put companies at a disadvantage compared with competitors in CPTPP countries.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current statement and the political reason behind it have been confirmed by Reuters and a Korean source. The description of possible effects on European markets remains explicitly conditional.
- confirmed Lee does not expect South Korea to join the CPTPP during his term. — Reuters quotes Lee saying this on 26 October. source
- confirmed The CPTPP has twelve member states. — Reuters refers to the trade agreement and its twelve members. source
- confirmed Lee spoke to more than one hundred farmers and fishers on Monday. — The Herald Business reports a meeting with more than 110 participants. source