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President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 6th. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung directed officials on the 6th regarding the government's push to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), saying, "Do not rush with a predetermined conclusion, and restart dialogue from scratch."

President Lee gave this instruction during a closed-door Cabinet meeting, noting, "Policy implementation must weigh the national interest based on the trust and consensus of farmers and fishers," according to a written briefing by Senior Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

President Lee also remarked, "Views are emerging that the strategic value of the CPTPP is critical amid turbulent shifts in the global trade order, alongside opinions expressing deep concerns across the agriculture and fisheries sectors."

During an afternoon briefing at Chunchugwan, when asked whether President Lee's directive to resume talks from scratch implies reconsidering accession itself or further gathering grievances from farmers and fishers to examine accession terms, Senior Spokesperson Kang explained, "We plan to resume dialogue with stakeholders from the ground up without setting a predetermined conclusion."

According to the results of the "Economic Impact Assessment of CPTPP Accession" released by relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, joining the CPTPP is projected to increase real gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.38 percentage points over the next 10 years and boost manufacturing output by up to an annual average of 6.7 trillion won over the next 15 years.

However, concerns continue to mount across the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, where an annual average production drop of roughly 850 billion won is projected as inevitable due to market opening.

                                                                                                             Hong Sun-mi