Barriers to Korea’s Manufactured Exports and Negotiating Options

Abstract

Market access was a relatively unimportant issue for Korea when it was a small developing country. However, access has now become difficult as Korea has been growing at a rapid pace. Korea can no longer be an independent actor in international trade. Rapid penetration of Korea’s exports into industrial countries hurts their workers and producers. On the other hand, Korea provides the industrial countries with an attractive market in terms of size and potential growth. Korea cannot help participating in the interdependent world economy regardless of its willingness.

I wish to thank Robert Baldwin, Michael Finger, John Whalley, Soogil Young, and the participants in the conference on Trade Policy and the Developing World, Ottawa, Canada.