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Fri, February 3, 2023 | 02:20
Companies
Seoul leaning toward joining TPP trade deal
최경환 "TPP, 참여방향으로 검토…쌀은 양허 제외"
Posted : 2015-10-06 16:55
Updated : 2015-10-06 21:38
Lee Hyo-sik
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Choi Kyung-hwan Finance minister
Choi Kyung-hwan Finance minister

By Lee Hyo-sik


Korea is considering joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to maintain its export competitiveness against archrival Japan, the country's top economic policymaker said Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Strategy and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan said the government will find ways to be part of the mega trade bloc, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP).

"We will actively consider joining the TPP," Choi told lawmakers during a National Assembly audit of the finance ministry. "After holding public hearings and following other necessary steps, we will decide on whether and when to be part of the trade bloc."

His remarks came a day after the United States, Japan and 10 other nations struck a deal to create the multilateral trade liberalization regime. The 10 countries are Canada, Australia, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Singapore and Brunei.

Korea has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with 10 of the 12 TPP members, including the United States.

The U.S-led talks began in 2010, but it took longer than previously expected as members were unable to iron out their differences over a range of trade issues.

Korea expressed its intention to join the TPP in 2013 but was unable to do so because it had to get consent from all 12 negotiating countries. In particular, Japan, which competes fiercely with Korea in automobile, electronics and other areas, has been openly opposing Korea's participation.

"The government will closely study the details of the TPP agreement and will contact its members. But we cannot publically say when and how we will conduct negotiations, given the sensitivity of its nature," the finance minister said.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy also said Korea will positively consider joining the TPP in order to maximize its national interest.

"We will analyze the TPP's impact on the Korean economy. Based on this analysis, we will take necessary steps and finalize our stance on whether to become a TPP member," a trade ministry official said.

The ministry expects that Korea's GDP will increase about 2.5 percent annually over the decade after joining the TPP.

The Korea International Trade Associations (KITA) and other business associations are calling on the government to take prompt measures to become a TPP member.

"Trade with TPP members reached $355.3 billion in 2014, accounting for 32.4 percent of Korea's cross-border trade. They are all important trade partners," a KITA official said. "The trade bloc will write new rules and set new standards concerning the cross-border trade of goods and services. Korea should take all possible steps to be part of it."

KITA then said Korea should be well prepared to negotiate with Japan, which has showed reluctance to let the country into the TPP.

"Domestic companies will be in a better position to bolster their outbound shipments and strengthen their competitiveness if Korea joins the TPP," the official said.


US welcomes Korea's move to join TPP

Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said his country "would welcome the opportunity to discuss the TPP with South Korea." He arrived in Seoul, Tuesday, for a three-day visit.

Blinken underscored that the U.S.-led multinational trade deal would enhance Washington's role in the region while changing the landscape of the international trade market.

Analysts say that local automakers, electronics makers and other manufacturers, which fiercely compete with Japanese rivals in overseas markets, may be impacted by the TPP if Korea fails to be part of the trade bloc.

However, textiles, apparel and other sectors, which are not directly engaged in competition with Japan and operate plants in TPP nations, could benefit from the trade pact.

"We believe that carmakers and auto parts producers here, in particular, will be adversely affected by the TPP as they face stiffer competition from Japanese rivals," said Daniel Cho, head of research at Daishin Securities.

The U.S. tariffs on made-in-Korea vehicles will be abolished next year, from the current 2.5 percent, under the Korea-U.S. FTA. But when the TPP goes into effect, Japanese automakers will get the same benefit, chipping away at Korean firms' price competitiveness in the world's largest consumer market.

Cho then said the TPP will do more harm than good to electronics, machinery and agricultural sectors.

However, local textile and apparel companies, most of whom have an extensive presence in Vietnam, will benefit from the trade deal because they will be able to ship more products to the United States and other TPP member countries.

"When the TPP goes into effect, local textile manufacturers running plants in Vietnam can boost their price competitiveness on lower tariffs," Cho said. "Korea‘s TPP participation will significantly benefit its economy."


최경환 "TPP, 참여방향으로 검토…쌀은 양허 제외"

'업무차 비용 한도, 사용경비 기준으로 접근해야'

최경환 부총리 겸 기획재정부 장관은 6일 환태평양경제동반자협정(TPP)이 타결된 데 대해 '어떤 형태로든 참여하는 방향으로 검토하겠다'고 밝혔다.

최 부총리는 이날 기획재정부 등에 대한 국회 기획재정위 국정감사에서 '공청회 등 절차를 거쳐 TPP 참여 여부와 시점을 결정하겠다'면서 이 같이 말했다.

미국과 일본 등 12개국은 전날 TPP 협상을 타결했다.

최 부총리는 '협상 상대방이 있기 때문에 언제, 어떤 조건으로 하겠다는 것을 구체적으로 언급하는 데 한계가 있다'면서 '국익을 관철시킬 수 있는 범위 내에서 협상하고 가입을 결정하겠다'고 강조했다.

그는 TPP로 우리 경제가 입을 타격에 대해 '정밀하게 분석해야겠지만 누적 원산지 규정이 포함돼 있어 수출에 영향을 미칠 수 있다'고 말했다.

최 부총리는 'FTA 측면에서는 우리가 일본보다 우위였지만 일본이 TPP에 가입함으로써 누적 원산지와 관련해 일본이 유리한 측면이 있을 것으로 본다'고 밝혔다.

누적기준이란 A국이 원산지인 물품·재료가 A국의 협정 상대국인 B국의 물품에 포함되면 그 물품의 원산지는 B국으로 인정하는 것을 말한다.

최 부총리는 TPP로 자동차 산업이 타격을 받을 수 있다는 지적과 관련해서 '면밀하게 연구해서 대응 방안을 마련하겠다'고 밝혔다.

TPP에 가입하면 쌀 시장 개방 압력을 이길 수 있느냐는 질의에 'TPP에 참여해도 쌀은 양허대상에서 제외해 계속 보호하겠다'고 강조했다.

최 부총리는 '쌀은 미국, 중국, 유럽연합(EU) 등과 자유무역협정(FTA)을 하면서도 양허대상에서 제외했다'면서 '앞으로 모든 FTA나 TPP 가입을 결정할 때 쌀은 양허대상에서 제외해 지속적으로 보호한다는 게 정부 방침'이라고 말했다

우리나라가 초기 TPP 협상에 참여하지 않은 이유에 대해서는 '2008년 미국이 TPP 협상 선언을 할 때 한·미 FTA가 타결됐고 한·중 FTA 협상이 진행 중이서 당시 정부(이명박 정부)는 여기에 집중하는 게 낫다는 판단을 했다'고 설명했다.

최 부총리는 '당시 12개 국가가 협상을 진전시켜 놓은 상황이어서 중간에 들어가는 데는 무리가 있었다'고 말했다.

그는 업무용 차량 비용처리 한도에 상한선을 두는 방안과 관련해서는 '연간 사용경비를 기준으로 하는 게 맞다'면서 '구체적인 상한 내용은 국회 조세심의 과정에서 논의될 것으로 생각한다'고 말했다.

최 부총리는 이어 '상한을 두게 되면 법령을 개정해야 한다'며 '법령 심의 과정에서 논의를 해서 가장 최적의 합리적인 대안이 마련됐으면 좋겠다'고 덧붙였다.

정부는 지난 8월 세법개정안에 업무용 차량운행 비용을 손금산입할 때 일정 조건을 충족하도록 하는 조항을 신설했다.

주형환 기재부 1차관은 시내면세점 추가 개설과 관련해 '중국인 관광객이 많이 들어오고 있으며 면세점의 투자 고용효과가 커서 추가 개설 필요성이 있는지 면밀하게 검토하고 있다'고 말했다.

주 차관은 지방의 시내 면세점 추가 개설도 검토하겠다고 덧붙였다.

최 부총리는 7∼10일 페루에서 열리는 주요 20개국(G20) 재무장관·중앙은행 총재회의와 국제통화기금(IMF)·세계은행(WB) 연차총회 참석을 위한 출국 때문에 이날 오전 국정감사에만 출석했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailleehs@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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