Seoul: South Korea and Britain commenced the third round of negotiations on Monday to enhance their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in light of evolving global trade and business dynamics, as reported by the trade ministry. The talks, set to last four days, are taking place in Seoul and are focused on accelerating discussions in areas such as services, supply chains, digital trade, and biotechnology.According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy highlighted the significance of these discussions. Kwon Hye-jin, South Korea's chief negotiator, emphasized Britain's role as a key partner and economic ally in emerging sectors, including cutting-edge industries and energy. The FTA between the two nations was initially signed in August 2019 and became effective in January 2021, following Britain's exit from the European Union.The current negotiations follow the first round of talks held in Seoul in January and a subsequent meeting in London in March. The ongoing discussions aim t o address the changes in the global trade environment and enhance the existing agreement to better serve both countries' economic interests.
- October 12, 2026
