South Korean finance minister Hong Nam Ki said Monday the country’s government will begin the process to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal, adding it to a growing list of aspirants that includes China and Taiwan.
Hong, who doubles as deputy prime minister, made the remark at a meeting of Cabinet ministers on external economic affairs. The government is expected to submit its application after reporting the move to the nation’s parliament, among other steps.
Hong said given the situation in which China and Taiwan have applied for membership, it “has become difficult to keep the matter to discussions within government offices.”
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