S. Korea urges WTO members to curb trade protectionism at Geneva meet
Synopsis
South Korea has taken its fight against rising global trade protectionism to the WTO General Council in Geneva, warning of a retaliatory vicious cycle if major economies persist with tariff hikes and import curbs. Simultaneously, Seoul launched a new joint committee with the EU to navigate supply chain shifts and industrial regulations — signalling a two-track diplomatic push at a critical moment for multilateral trade.
Key Concerns: Steel Oversupply and Tariff-Rate Quotas
Kwon specifically flagged the impact of tariff-rate quotas on South Korea's steel industry, pressing the case through both multilateral and bilateral channels. She argued that structural issues such as the global oversupply of steel and other goods must be addressed through fundamental solutions rather than unilateral trade barriers that shift the burden onto trading partners.
This comes amid a broader wave of protectionist actions globally, including the European Union and Britain adopting new steel safeguard measures that directly affect South Korean exports. Notably, South Korea is among the world's top steel exporters, making such measures a significant economic concern for Seoul.
Bilateral Meetings on Steel Safeguards
On the sidelines of the WTO General Council, Kwon held bilateral meetings with representatives from Britain, Japan, Turkey, and other nations. The discussions centred on the steel safeguard measures recently adopted by the EU and Britain, as well as other pending trade disputes. Seoul views these bilateral engagements as a parallel diplomatic track to reinforce its multilateral positions.
Key Takeaways
Kwon Hye-jin led South Korea's delegation at the WTO General Council meeting in Geneva beginning 7 May 2025 .
Seoul warned that trade protectionist measures risk creating a vicious cycle of retaliatory tariffs among nations.
South Korea raised the issue of tariff-rate quotas affecting its steel industry through multilateral and bilateral channels.
Bilateral meetings were held with representatives from Britain , Japan , and Turkey on EU and UK steel safeguard measures.
A new Korea-EU Specialised Committee on Emerging Trade and Economic Issues held its inaugural meeting in Seoul , co-led by Vice Trade Minister Park Jung-sung and EU Trade Director General Sabine Weyand .
South Korea has called on the global community to collectively respond to the surge in trade-restrictive measures being imposed by major economies, raising the issue at a high-level World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council meeting in Geneva on 7 May 2025. The appeal was made by Seoul's chief representative at the two-day meeting, which began on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
South Korea's Stand at the WTO General Council
Kwon Hye-jin, Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, led South Korea's delegation at the Geneva session. Kwon urged WTO member nations to refrain from imposing trade protectionist measures — including tariff hikes and import restrictions — warning that such actions risk triggering a
Point of View
And Seoul knows it cannot rely on Geneva alone. The steel safeguard issue is a microcosm of a larger structural problem: major economies are increasingly using trade instruments as industrial policy tools, leaving mid-sized export-dependent nations like South Korea caught in the crossfire. The newly formed Korea-EU committee is diplomatically significant, but its real test will be whether it can influence EU regulatory decisions before they are finalised — not after. Seoul's credibility as a champion of the rules-based trading system will depend on whether it can convert diplomatic activism into tangible rollbacks of measures hurting its exporters.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did South Korea raise trade protectionism concerns at the WTO?
South Korea raised concerns at the WTO General Council in Geneva on 7 May 2025 because major economies have been imposing tariff hikes and import restrictions that risk triggering retaliatory trade measures globally. Seoul is particularly affected by steel safeguard measures adopted by the EU and Britain.
Who represented South Korea at the WTO General Council meeting in Geneva?
Kwon Hye-jin, Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, served as South Korea's chief representative at the two-day WTO General Council meeting in Geneva.
What is the Korea-EU Specialised Committee on Emerging Trade and Economic Issues?
It is a newly established joint committee between South Korea and the European Union, designed to jointly address shifts in the global trade environment including supply chain restructuring and rising protectionism. Its inaugural meeting was held in Seoul, co-led by Vice Trade Minister Park Jung-sung and EU Trade Director General Sabine Weyand.
How does the steel oversupply issue affect South Korea?
South Korea is one of the world's leading steel exporters, and tariff-rate quotas and safeguard measures imposed by the EU and Britain directly restrict its market access. Seoul has argued that global steel oversupply must be addressed through fundamental multilateral solutions rather than unilateral trade barriers.
What did South Korea say about the risk of retaliatory trade measures?
South Korea's representative Kwon Hye-jin warned at the WTO General Council that protectionist actions such as tariff hikes and import restrictions can create a vicious cycle of retaliation among countries, ultimately harming the global trading system that all nations depend on.
