South Korea Tells Japan of Intention to Join CPTPP

Seoul, Jan. 14 (Jiji Press)–South Korea has indicated its intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership during a summit in Japan on Tuesday, South Korean national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said Wednesday. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung did not refer to the plan in a joint announcement after Tuesday’s summit in the western Japan city of Nara. Still, Wi said at a press conference Wednesday that Seoul intends to hold working-level talks with Tokyo on the matter. Accession to the Japan-led CPTPP requires approval from all member countries. Winning Japan’s support is key for South Korea. South Korea has been suspending imports of fishery products from eight Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, since the March 2011 meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s tsunami-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan. Japan has been urging South Korea to remove the import restrictions. The Lee administration is expected to examine whether to lift the restrictions while considering public sentiment. Wi explained that the South Korean side had received a briefing on Japanese food safety during the summit. At the summit, Takaichi and Lee also agreed to cooperate on stabilizing supply chains for critical materials. Wi said that South Korea and Japan are preparing various frameworks among working-level officials, underscoring the significance of reliable supply chains for economic security. Following China’s recent ban on exports of dual-use goods to Japan, the South Korean government believes the move could impact the country’s industries through the supply chains of Japan, China and South Korea. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]