Korea Food Industry Association Hosts Indian Delegation to Discuss CEPA Improvements

The Korea Food Industry Association welcomed an Indian delegation on August 18th to showcase its food science research facilities and explore avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation. The visit, focused on improving the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), provided an opportunity for the association to highlight its analytical testing capabilities and technological support systems for ensuring food safety.

During the meeting, the association also conveyed the practical difficulties Korean food companies encounter under the current CEPA. A key concern raised was the dual requirement for meeting both the Change of Tariff Heading (CTH) and the 40% value-added criteria to qualify for preferential tariffs. This, they explained, places a significant burden on businesses seeking to utilize the agreement.

The association urged a reconsideration of these rules, proposing that either the CTH criterion alone be accepted or that meeting just one of the two criteria should suffice for preferential tariff application. "India is growing as a promising consumer market and production base with a population of 1.4 billion, and domestic food companies' interest is increasing," said Jung Yong-ik, Vice Chairman of the Korea Food Industry Association. "We expect this visit to serve as an opportunity to strengthen Korea-India food industry cooperation and vitalize bilateral food trade through expanded CEPA utilization."

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India is growing as a promising consumer market and production base with a population of 1.4 billion, and domestic food companies' interest is increasing. We expect this visit to serve as an opportunity to strengthen Korea-India food industry cooperation and vitalize bilateral food trade through expanded CEPA utilization.