NongHyup Agricultural Policy and Trade Committee "Government Must Stop Unilateral CPTPP Accession Push"

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] The Nonghyup Agricultural Policy and Trade Committee has called for the government to halt its push for joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

On the 11th, the Nonghyup Agricultural Policy and Trade Committee held a resolution rally at the main auditorium of the Nonghyup Central Association headquarters, expressing opposition by stating, "The government's unilateral push to join the CPTPP will deal another severe blow to our agriculture, which has struggled to survive amid the waves of free trade agreements (FTAs) simultaneously signed with major agricultural powers around the world."

The Nonghyup Agricultural Policy and Trade Committee is composed of 40 heads of regional and product-specific agricultural cooperatives representing various regions.

They demanded, "Immediately halt the CPTPP accession process, which is being pushed forward unilaterally without forming a consensus within the agricultural sector, the direct victims of market opening, and conduct thorough discussions with the agricultural community." They added, "Since the damage from market openings under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and FTAs has been concentrated entirely on the agricultural sector, please present effective measures to resolve the serious trade benefit imbalance with industrial sectors and guarantee the survival rights of farmers." Furthermore, they asserted, "Food sovereignty, which ensures stable provision of food to the people without relying on other countries, is non-negotiable; therefore, advanced-level food security measures to increase food self-sufficiency rates must be promptly prepared, along with a national fiscal support plan to implement them."

The Nonghyup Central Association plans to establish a comprehensive response system through the Nonghyup-wide CPTPP Response Committee and will continue sustained activities going forward.