Conference highlights Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement as a model to grow bilateral trade

The success of the Korea-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) over the last 10 years was cited as a model to emulate amid global tariff wars during a conference the School of Public Policy hosted to discuss opportunities to bolster trade. 

The event The 10th Anniversary of the Korea-Canada FTA: Alberta’s Opportunities and Challenges featured Consul General Jongho Kyun Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver, and Joseph Schow, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs Economy, Trade and Immigration, as well as experts from industry and government  

Bilateral trade between Canada and Korea has more than doubled since the FTA came into force in 2015. Today, South Korea is Canada’s eighth largest trading partner with two-way trade that exceeded $25.6 billion in 2024.   

Alberta accounted for about $1.5 billion of that bilateral trade and discussions during the conference focused on two areas with significant potential for growth for the province, agriculture and energy. 

Martha Hall Findlay, Director of the School of Public Policy and James S. and Barbara A. Palmer Chair in Public Policy, applauded businesses for taking advantage of the trade agreement and expressed optimism for the future.  

“Governments can negotiate trade agreements, but it is up to the business community and other communities to take advantage of the opportunities those agreements provide,” she said. “No question the world has changed but in the last few years a lot has happened to allow for even more opportunities between Canada and Korea.” 

International Policy and the Indo-Pacific region are key areas of focus for the School of Public Policy.