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| European Union Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez, center, poses with members of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) during a press conference at the ECCK headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of ECCK |
European firms in Seoul assume ambiguous stance
By Park Jae-hyuk
Top European diplomatic and business leaders here have maintained an ambiguous attitude toward the European Union (EU) backing the Nigerian candidate over the Korean one for leadership of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The ambiguity is an apparent attempt to dismiss concerns about a possible deterioration in economic ties between Korea and Europe over the issue.
During Tuesday's online press conference to celebrate the publication of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) White Paper for this year, EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez told reporters it was "better not to comment or speculate" about the WTO director-general election, adding, "The EU has supported both of them."
ECCK President Christoph Heider also said in a speech: "I also liked that Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee is running for leadership of the WTO."
Their remarks were somewhat contradictory to the Wall Street Journal and several foreign news outlets, which reported that European diplomats have criticized the United States for supporting the Korean candidate.
According to reports citing EU officials, its member states are supporting former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to signal their plan to reinforce the multilateral order and trust between the European bloc and Africa.
But at the same time, their stance has aroused concerns that Korea may not be as important an economic partner as Africa is for European countries, although the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement will mark its 10th anniversary next year.
Diplomatic and economic experts expect the EU will continue to support the Nigerian because the U.S. could change its stance following the victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election.
The WTO has postponed a final decision on the new chief indefinitely. Some observers anticipate the Korean candidate will drop out of the election, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said nothing has been decided yet. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also talked about this issue with her U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo during her visit to Washington, D.C.
Amid lingering concerns over a possible conflict between Korea and Europe, the EU envoy emphasized their close relationship, saying, "Korea is the EU's eighth-largest export destination for goods, while the EU is Korea's third largest export market after China and the U.S."
"The EU remains the largest source of FDI into Korea, contributing to the creation of jobs and innovation in the Korean economy. The EU-Korea FTA was the EU's first trade deal with an Asian country and the most ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement at that time."
The ECCK president also mentioned the importance of the Korean market, recognizing the country for taking more international responsibility, in keeping with its economic and trade power.
At the press conference, European business leaders in Korea also offered 145 recommendations they thought necessary to help the Korean government shape better investment conditions here.
"We would like to thank the Korean government for responding to our requests and organizing meetings and listening to our opinions and delivering official feedbacks to our White Paper recommendations every year," ECCK Chairman Dirk Lukat said.
