Global New Trade Forum Addresses Export Challenges Amid Geopolitical Shifts

On the 30th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) convened the ‘2026 Global New Trade Forum’ in Seoul, attended by over 300 representatives from domestic companies, government, and related agencies. This forum, themed 'Survival Strategies for Companies Beyond Trade Barriers and Trade Tides,' aims to identify export breakthroughs and new opportunities for South Korea's firms amid rapidly changing global trade environments.

The global trade landscape is facing substantial upheaval due to a combination of intensified competition between major powers, an increasing focus on industrial policy, and a protective trade climate. These shifts have escalated compliance burdens for firms, particularly as regional regulations become more complex. The United States is reinforcing its domestic-centric trade policies alongside supply chain realignments, while Europe is swiftly implementing sustainability-based trade norms such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

During the keynote address, Youm Young-Hee, a professor at Korea University and former head of the Trade Negotiation Bureau, emphasized the need for South Korean companies to strengthen their competitiveness in anticipation of protectionist measures and to bolster supply chain collaborations with major countries. Kim Jong-Duk from the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy dissected existing non-tariff barriers imposed by key nations, providing regulatory insights essential for the formulation of effective export strategies.

Local experts addressed practical responses to non-tariff barriers, drawing from firsthand experiences with trade regulations and export challenges. Kim Un-Kyung, a partner at Baker McKenzie, advised against sole dependence on suppliers amid increasing scrutiny and highlighted the importance of verifying the origin of intermediate goods along with preparing documentation. Furthermore, Kim Do-Yeon from KOTRA’s Brussels Trade Office detailed essential EU trade regulations and economic security policies that exporters must navigate, particularly involving the Industrial Acceleration Act.

In his opening remarks, Kim Young-Man, Director of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, underscored the current low predictability in the trade environment due to the reshaping of global supply chains and nationalistic trade practices. He reassured attendees that the government would leverage every available trade network to ensure that companies are not blocked from export opportunities by unfair trade barriers.

KOTRA Vice President Kim Kwan-Mook stated that the forum focused on presenting 'actionable response strategies' suitable for firms facing the rapidly evolving trade landscape. He affirmed KOTRA’s commitment to proactively identifying trade regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers through its global trade offices, while coordinating closely with relevant agencies to safeguard the exports of small to medium-sized enterprises.