What is the Green Economy Partnership Agreement between Korea, Singapore and New Zealand intended to address?

The agreement is intended to help the three countries jointly address trade-related climate measures, including the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Seoul also says it aims to help businesses maintain stable operations amid a volatile global trade environment.

What sectors will Korea, Singapore and New Zealand cooperate on through the green trade pact?

The three countries plan to expand exchanges of policies and technologies in the aerospace and construction sectors. The ministry said the agreement is intended to support practical cooperation that turns shared priorities into tangible outcomes.

Korea, Singapore, New Zealand review progress in green trade pact talks

Q: What is the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and why is it relevant to the GEPA talks?

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is an EU policy instrument designed to ensure imported goods face a carbon price comparable to that imposed on products manufactured within the bloc. The three countries are discussing how to jointly address trade-related climate measures such as this mechanism.

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Summary

Korea, Singapore and New Zealand discussed progress and outstanding issues in negotiations on their trilateral Green Economy Partnership Agreement during a videoconference Thursday ahead of APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in China. Seoul says the pact aims to help the countries address trade-related climate measures, including the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and support stable business operations. The partners also plan to expand policy and technology exchanges in aerospace and construction. Negotiations began last year, and a third round is scheduled for early 2027.

Key Facts

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said the three countries have held two negotiation rounds, in July and September this year.
The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is designed to ensure imported goods face a carbon price comparable to that imposed on products made within the bloc.
The countries plan to exchange policies and technologies in aerospace and construction to promote sustainable industrial growth.
The ministry said the agreement would provide a mechanism for practical cooperation to turn shared priorities into tangible outcomes.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 5, 2026 11:18 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Gyeongju, Nov. 1, 2025. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seog

Korea, Singapore and New Zealand have discussed progress in negotiations and key outstanding issues related to their trilateral Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA), the industry ministry said Thursday.

Senior officials from the three countries held a videoconference ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Week, scheduled to begin next week in China, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

Through the agreement, Seoul seeks to work with the two partners to jointly address the challenges posed by trade-related climate measures (TrCMs), including the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and help businesses maintain stable operations amid an increasingly volatile global trade environment, the ministry said.

CBAM is an EU policy instrument designed to ensure that imported goods face a carbon price comparable to that imposed on products manufactured within the bloc.

The three countries also plan to expand exchanges of policies and technologies in the aerospace and construction sectors to promote sustainable industrial growth.

Negotiations on GEPA were launched on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Week, held in Korea last year. The three countries have since held two rounds of negotiations, in July and September this year, with a third round scheduled for early 2027, the ministry said.

"Beyond establishing rules and frameworks, GEPA will also provide a mechanism for participating countries to pursue practical cooperation to translate shared priorities into tangible outcomes," it said.

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