Korea Post - 01 December 2025

S.Korea and Serbia launch first official negotiations for comprehensive economic partnership agreement

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced that South Korea and Serbia have begun their first official round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), taking place in Seoul from December 1 to 4.

The negotiations bring together more than 60 delegates from both sides, including Son Ho-young, Acting Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations at MOTIR, and Olivera Jocic, Acting Assistant Minister of Internal and External Trade for Serbia, who are leading their respective delegations.

Serbia is emerging as a key manufacturing and logistics hub in the Balkans, leveraging its strategic position connecting Europe and the Middle East and its comparatively competitive labor costs. The country is also recognized for abundant mineral resources, offering significant potential for expanded cooperation on critical supply chains.

During this week’s negotiation round, the two sides will hold focused discussions across 10 working groups, covering areas such as tariff concessions, rules of origin, customs procedures and economic cooperation. Since officially announcing the launch of negotiations in September last year, both countries have largely coordinated the structure of the agreement and defined the main negotiation areas through prior technical consultations.

“Serbia is a strategic base linking the EU and the Balkan region, and Korean companies have been actively expanding their presence in sectors such as electric vehicles, batteries and renewable energy,” Son stated. “The CEPA will not only improve market access for Korean firms, but also play a significant role in strengthening supply chain resilience.”