South Korea and Japan Customs Chiefs Meet in Seoul to Advance Trade Cooperation
Customs agency leaders from South Korea and Japan convened in Seoul for their first meeting since new governments took office. They agreed to collaborate on implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and developing electronic systems for origin certifications. Discussions also covered blocking illegal goods and enhancing regional agency exchanges.
dailynewsegypt.comSouth Korea and Japan's customs agency chiefs met in Seoul on Thursday, agreeing to collaborate on the swift implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement among 15 Asia-Pacific nations including South Korea, Japan, China and Australia, Yonhap reported.
The meeting, held between Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Myeong-ku and his Japanese counterpart Mitsuhiro Teraoka, marked the first such gathering since the inauguration of new governments in both countries, according to the Korea Customs Service.
The two sides committed to starting discussions on systems for exchanging origin certifications electronically as part of their RCEP efforts.
They also agreed to convene regular meetings focused on measures to block the inflow of illegal or harmful goods between the two countries. In addition, the senior officials addressed ways to enhance exchanges between regional customs agencies from South Korea and Japan.
After the meeting in Seoul, Lee Myeong-ku and Mitsuhiro Teraoka posed for a photo, which was provided by the South Korean customs agency on April 24, 2026.
The discussions took place amid a surge in cross-border e-commerce shipments, with the officials touching on measures to strengthen economic security, Yonhap reported.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- 2026-04-24
South Korean customs agency provided a photo of Lee Myeong-ku and Mitsuhiro Teraoka after their meeting.
1 sourceYonhap - 2026-04-23
Meeting held in Seoul between South Korea and Japan's customs agency chiefs, where they agreed on RCEP implementation, electronic origin certifications, regular meetings on illegal goods, and enhancing regional exchanges.
1 sourceYonhap - Post-new governments inauguration (exact date unspecified)
First customs chiefs meeting since inauguration of new governments in South Korea and Japan.
1 sourceYonhap - Unspecified past date
RCEP signed between 15 Asia-Pacific nations including South Korea, Japan, China, and Australia.
1 sourceYonhap
Potential Impact
- 01
Facilitated trade through electronic origin certifications could streamline customs processes between South Korea and Japan.
- 02
Swift RCEP implementation might boost trade volumes among the 15 participating Asia-Pacific nations.
- 03
Regular meetings may reduce inflow of illegal goods, potentially decreasing cross-border e-commerce risks.
- 04
Enhanced regional customs exchanges could strengthen economic security amid trade uncertainties.
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
Eric Jones / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)Explosion at China Fireworks Factory Kills 26 and Injures 61 in Hunan Province
An explosion at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, Hunan province, killed at least 26 people and injured 61 on Monday afternoon. Rescue operations concluded with evacuations and production halts at local fireworks manufacturers. President Xi Jinp…
indiatoday.intoday.inTrump Pauses Project Freedom in Strait of Hormuz Amid Progress on Iran Agreement
President Trump announced a temporary pause to Project Freedom, the U.S. effort to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing mutual agreement with Iran to facilitate finalizing a deal while the blockade remains in place. The decision follows requests from Pakistan and oth…
South Australian Railways photographer / Wikimedia (Public domain)Australian Government Introduces Levy on Tech Platforms to Support Local News Publishers
Australia's government introduced the News Bargaining Incentive to shield publishers from big tech's use of news content. President Trump imposed a 100% tariff on imported pharmaceuticals, but Australia stated it would not raise drug prices. On International Day of the Midwife, g…