South Korea Halts CPTPP Bid on President Lee's Order
President Lee Jae Myung has directed South Korea not to apply for CPTPP membership this year, prioritizing consultations with farmers and fishermen over a deadline-driven trade push.
President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the South Korean government not to apply for membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) within the year. The directive, communicated by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung on Thursday, October 8, 2026, reverses a prior government review and halts progress toward joining the 12-nation trade bloc.
Kang Yu-jung stated, "President Lee Jae Myung ordered that we not apply for CPTPP membership within the year." The instruction followed a Cabinet discussion on the topic held the preceding Tuesday. The CPTPP comprises countries including Japan, Mexico, Australia, Canada, and Vietnam, and its members accounted for about 15.2 percent of global trade in 2019.
Timing undermines November conference prospects
The order effectively ends South Korea’s chance to be formally considered for membership at a CPTPP ministerial conference scheduled for November. Officials noted that for such consideration, a public hearing notice had to be posted to the official gazette by mid-October at the latest. The President's decision, coming just weeks before this key deadline, critically shapes the country's immediate trade policy direction.
Economic projections contrast with political decision
This political move comes despite government economic projections that highlighted significant potential benefits from joining the pact. A government analysis released last month estimated South Korea's GDP would grow by an additional 0.38 percentage point over a decade following potential CPTPP entry.
| Sector | Projected Annual Impact | Duration of Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Increase of 6.7 trillion won (US$4.99 billion) | 15 years |
| Agriculture & Fisheries | Decline of approximately 850 billion won | Annually |
While manufacturing output was forecast to rise substantially, the projected annual decline in agricultural and fisheries production fueled sectoral opposition that ultimately shaped the President's decision.
Industry opposition shapes policy reversal
Farming and fishing industries have strongly opposed CPTPP membership, citing fears that cheaper imports would erode their income and domestic production bases. The President's directive explicitly acknowledged these concerns. Kang Yu-jung added that the President "urged relevant ministries to listen sincerely to the voices of farmers and fishermen and continue to have discussions, rather than setting a deadline."
In line with this, the government will continue discussions with farmers and fishermen on trade policy, rather than pursuing a deadline-driven application for CPTPP membership.
