Trump 1st Term US-Korea FTA Representative "Global Trade Order Upheaval, South Korea Must Prepare"

KITA Hosts 'World Trade Forum' in Gangnam, Seoul
Special Lecture by Former Deputy USTR Michael Berman
Attended by Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Other Key Figures

With Donald Trump officially inaugurated as President of the United States, a senior official who participated in the 'Trump 1st term' Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) advised that South Korea also needs strategic preparation amid the upheaval in the global trade order led by the U.S.

Photo by Michael Beeman, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative in February 2018, Yonhap News

Michael Berman, former Deputy USTR Representative, made these remarks on the afternoon of the 21st at the Grand InterContinental Parnas Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, as a special speaker at the '2025 KITA World Trade Forum' hosted by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).

In his special lecture titled "Return of the Trump Era and the Great Upheaval in the Global Trade Order," Berman pointed out, "The political division in the U.S. has triggered a new zero-sum based trade policy, marking a turning point departing from the international trade order that the U.S. has built over the past 75 years."

He particularly suggested, "South Korea must strategically prepare for the ripple effects these changes will have on the Korea-U.S. relationship."

Berman served as the chief U.S. negotiator during the 2017-2018 renegotiation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) under the Trump first administration. In November last year, at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI) seminar on Korea-U.S. economic cooperation held in Washington, D.C., he emphasized regarding the Trump second administration’s policies, "We all only guess about the universal tariff (imposition) standards, but my strong feeling is that they are committed to this (tariffs)."

The forum held under the theme "The Path Forward for Korean Trade in an Era of Hyper-Uncertainty" featured not only former Deputy Representative Berman but also former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Maria Castillo Fernandez, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Korea, Minister Ahn Duk-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Yoon Jin-sik, Chairman of KITA, among many other leading figures representing the global trade and commerce sectors.

In his keynote speech, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed, "In a world becoming increasingly polarized, Korea must lead global cooperation through a multilateral trade system." He further stated, "Amid complex challenges such as digital transformation, climate change, and supply chain restructuring, Korea should leverage its technological capabilities and cultural influence to pioneer a new trade order and further strengthen its competitiveness as an export powerhouse."

Kwon Nam-hoon, President of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, in his presentation titled "Changes in the Global Economic Environment in 2025 and Prospects for Korean Trade," expressed expectations that exports could surpass $700 billion this year but also emphasized caution. He added, "Despite income growth driven by global economic expansion, the demand for our products is not increasing proportionally, and this phenomenon is intensifying. It is urgent to prepare for external risks such as changes in trade policies and political instability, along with structural countermeasures."

In his opening remarks, KITA Chairman Yoon Jin-sik emphasized, "With the inauguration of Trump’s second term and the commencement of his active agenda, we must carefully monitor future policy changes and their impact on the global trade environment."

Minister Ahn Duk-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated in his congratulatory address, "Despite difficult trade conditions such as geopolitical risks, major countries’ prioritization of their own interests, and supply chain restructuring, the government will cooperate with key countries to minimize risks." He also said, "In response to the new U.S. administration, we will activate an inter-ministerial response system, utilize communication channels with the U.S., conduct comprehensive outreach, and support companies’ stable trade activities."