A group of farmers and fishermen protest against the government's move to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) during a public hearing at the Sejong Government Complex, March 24. Korea Times file

By Lee Kyung-min

Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will threaten the country's food security, a group of farmers and fishermen said during a discussion at the National Assembly, Tuesday.

They say the government is railroading the politically divisive plan to apply for membership in the mega trade deal involving 11 member countries, without due countermeasures to protect local farmers and fishermen whose livelihoods will be fundamentally uprooted, compounded further by a heightened threat to overall food security.

"The government has yet to address our collective concerns, let alone come up with answers to solve the problem," Korean Advanced Farmers Federation head Lee Hak-koo said during a discussion organized by Rep. Yoon Jae-kab of the Democratic Party of Korea. Yoon sits on the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee.

Lee said the government figures for the estimated production declines of the agricultural, fisheries and livestock industries are far lower than the industry consensus, saying the industry workers are enraged by the government's deceitful tactic.

"The government says Korea joining the CPTPP will mean a cumulative estimated decrease in the industry's output over the next 15 years averaging around 440 billion won ($355 million) a year, which we find hard to believe," Lee said.

Yoon criticized the government for pushing for CPTPP membership without discussions or consultations with the industry workers.

The government should strengthen the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, otherwise known as the SPS Agreement, the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards that will be eased upon Korea becoming a CPTPP member.

"The eased SPS Agreement will lead to an increase in the number of import items," Yoon said. "The government's inaction to prevent massive inflow of cheap import food, agriculture and fisheries goods will tank the livelihoods of local workers."

The 11 CPTPP member countries are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said on April 15 that the government will apply for CPTPP membership. The application will be submitted before next month following a National Assembly briefing. Up to two years will be needed for the application to be reviewed and membership granted.