During a meeting of the steering committee for the EU-South Korea free trade agreement which was held in Brussels on Friday 19 January, the EU spoke of its concerns about its beef exports, the protection of its geographical indications, and administrative and customs procedures. The EU-South Korea free trade agreement has been in place since 2011.
Chaired by European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and South Korea's Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong, the committee examined "important issues that are of concern to European industry", a Commission source close to the issue told EUROPE.
"The EU and South Korea are long-established allies and economic partners who share a similar vision of openness in global trade. The EU-South Korea free trade agreement has been an economic success story for both sides. Exports and imports are up hugely and the trade balance is levelling out", the source said.
"However, the EU has some serious concerns regarding trade and sustainable development, and in particular labour rights in South Korea", the source added.
In a resolution adopted in May 2017, the European Parliament called on Seoul to implement its chapter on sustainable development correctly (see EUROPE 11791). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)