S. Korea signs FTA with Britain, bracing for post-Brexit

Published : Aug 22, 2019 - 19:30 Updated : Aug 22, 2019 - 19:30

South Korea signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Britain on Thursday, a step to help maintain the continuity of their trade and economic ties even after London's departure from the European Union (EU).

There have been concerns that South Korean exporters may no longer enjoy the benefits under the existing South Korea-EU FTA when Britain leaves the world's single largest economic bloc without agreeing on post-Brexit conditions.

In London, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee and her British counterpart Elizabeth Truss vowed to maintain mutual benefits under the Seoul-Brussels FTA that took effect in July 2011.

South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee (AFP)

"South Korea will make thorough preparations and take actions to help local companies maintain their trade and investment free from the uncertainties, including Brexit," Yoo said.

Seoul plans to finalize the remaining procedures, including winning the parliament's ratification, before the end of October when Britain is scheduled to depart from the world's single largest economic bloc.

The two countries also agreed to revise the FTA within two years to update terms of the deal, according to the ministry.

When implemented, South Korea will be able to export major products, including automobiles, without tariffs to Britain, as has been under the Seoul-Brussels FTA.

Seoul will also allocate tariff-rate quotas (TRQ) for agricultural products whose demand runs high in South Korea, such as malted barley.

The two countries will especially promote the cooperation on prominent segments, including artificial intelligence, big data, next-generation automobiles, bio technologies and non-memory chips, the ministry added.

Britain is the 18th-largest trading partner for Asia's fourth-largest economy, accounting for less than 2 percent of its overall trade.

Asia's fourth-largest economy's exports to Britain reached $6.36 billion in 2018, down 21 percent from a year earlier, while imports came to $6.8 billion.

South Korea mainly ships automobiles, ships and marine facilities to Britain. In return, key import products from Britain include crude and pharmaceutical goods.

Considering the time for companies to adapt to the new deal, the two countries agreed to acknowledge products transported via the European Union to be treated equally as those shipped directly to Britain, the ministry said.

Concerns over a no-deal Brexit have been looming as London has been facing challenges in finding common ground in the divorce agreement with the EU, especially on the "backstop" issue that centers on the border problem between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maintains that the backstop, supported by his predecessor, should be removed and that the deal needs to be amended. The backstop centers on having no physical border being present at the border under any conditions.

(Yonhap)