Government launches public consultations, stops short of membership decision

Agriculture ministry commissions economic impact study on farming sector

Meetings with farmers, producer groups planned for September

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol delivers opening remarks at the 273rd Meeting of Ministers on External Economic Affairs at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. [Lim Se-jun]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol delivers opening remarks at the 273rd Meeting of Ministers on External Economic Affairs at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. [Lim Se-jun]

South Korea has launched a government-level public consultation process to determine whether to pursue membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The government has not predetermined its position, saying it will weigh whether joining would deliver tangible benefits to the national interest and people's livelihoods. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said the potential impact on the farming sector is significant enough that projected losses to agriculture must be thoroughly examined before any decision is made.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the 273rd Meeting of Ministers on External Economic Affairs held Thursday received a report on the government's planned approach to CPTPP membership and included discussions among related ministries. The government agreed to begin public consultations and gather stakeholder opinions on the issue.

The discussions do not constitute a decision to join CPTPP. The government said it will collect opinions from stakeholders before carefully assessing whether membership would genuinely serve the national interest and people's livelihoods, and will only then determine whether to proceed.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said CPTPP membership could have a substantial impact on the farming sector. It has particularly stressed that projected losses to agriculture must not be overlooked or downplayed when evaluating whether to pursue membership, and has consistently argued within the government that a decision should be made only after sufficient consultation with the agricultural community.

Direct consultations with the farming sector will also begin. The ministry plans to hold meetings in September with umbrella farm organizations as well as producer groups representing individual crops and sectors. It said it will create as many channels for dialogue as possible, gather the agricultural community's views and relay them to the government's internal deliberations.

An analysis of CPTPP's potential impact on domestic agriculture is also underway. The ministry is commissioning a research study to assess the economic feasibility of membership for the farming sector and, if necessary, to inform the development of negotiating strategies. The findings are expected to be presented at a public hearing at a later date.

"Given that CPTPP is a matter of serious concern for our agricultural community, the decision on whether to pursue membership must be made only after sufficient communication with farmers as the core stakeholders," the ministry said. "We will listen fully to the agricultural community's views and deliberate together throughout the upcoming consultation process, and will faithfully represent the interests of our farmers in the government's internal discussions."


adastra@heraldcorp.com