South Korean fisheries groups oppose CPTPP accession

A coalition of 75 agricultural, forestry, and fisheries organizations has launched the ‘Emergency Committee to Prevent CPTPP Access’ to oppose South Korea’s potential entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The committee criticizes the government’s pursuit of the agreement as a “closed-door trade negotiation” that demands the unilateral sacrifice of primary industries. Key concerns include the high rate of market opening—with CPTPP members averaging a 99.4% seafood market opening rate compared to South Korea’s existing FTA average of 87.8%—and the potential prohibition of fisheries subsidies, such as tax-free fuel for fishing vessels.

Fisheries representatives also expressed fears regarding increased pressure from Japan to lift import bans on seafood from Fukushima. In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has scheduled a meeting with fishery groups on September 29 to discuss impact assessments and countermeasures. The Ministry plans to expand these discussions to five regional areas across the country starting in October.