The EU is focusing on the Indo-Pacific: new steps with Seoul and Tokyo on digital trade and defence

Brussels – In a world where traditional partners (led by the United States) no longer offer the same reliability as they once did, the European Union is seeking new opportunities. And the Far East, in particular the Indo-Pacific, represents one of the main focal points around which Brussels’ alliance policy revolves. This was confirmed by two separate but politically aligned meetings held today (17 April). On the one hand, Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, co-chaired with South Korea’s Minister for Trade, Yeo Han-koo, the thirteenth meeting of the EU-Republic of Korea Trade Committee, the body that oversees the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Brussels and Seoul, which entered into force in 2011. Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, took part alongside Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Toshio Ino, in the first meeting of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue, within the framework of the historic military cooperation agreement signed by Tokyo and Brussels in November 2024. 

Starting from South Korea, the main outcome of today’s meeting was the finalisation of the Digital Trade Agreement (DTA). The agreement—which follows the one signed in July with Singapore and runs in parallel with similar negotiations with other countries in the region, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India—will be officially signed at the EU-Korea Summit scheduled later this year and aims to ensure ambitious rules in the e-commerce sector. “Stricter rules,” the Commission explained in its statement following the meeting, “will strengthen consumer confidence, ensure predictability and legal certainty for businesses, as well as reliable data flows.” 

The meeting between Šefčovič and his South Korean counterpart also provided an opportunity to launch—again within the framework of the FTA—the new Strategic Dialogue on Trade, Supply Chains and Technology. According to the Berlaymont, this has set in motion a “cooperation platform” between the EU and South Korea that aims to establish “shared geopolitical and economic priorities, including economic security, critical raw materials, the protection of advanced technology supply chains, and cooperation in the battery sector.” On this point, Šefčovič emphasised the importance of collaboration between like-minded partners as an essential element “to ensure stable, predictable, and mutually beneficial trade.” 

Taking an overall view of trade relations between Brussels and Seoul, the Slovak Commissioner also highlighted the significant growth in trade in goods (€124 billion last year) and the high level of investment. In particular, progress was highlighted on the agreement on motor vehicles and on mutual recognition in the field of electronics, as well as the decision to set up a working group on cosmetics. At the same time, today’s meeting provided an opportunity to discuss what the European Commission has described as “the main difficulties” faced by EU manufacturers operating in Korea. “Commissioner Šefčovič“, the statement reads, “raised issues such as market access for agricultural products, offshore wind power, the automotive sector and the online sale of alcoholic beverages.” 

These are all issues that can be explored in greater depth within the framework of the future EU-Korea Strategic Partnership, the launch of which, ahead of this year’s summit, was agreed today by Šefčovič and Han-koo. 

While Šefčovič looked to Seoul, Kubilius had his sights set on Tokyo. The former Lithuanian prime minister co-chaired, alongside his Japanese counterpart, the first EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue, an opportunity to take stock of the results of the military cooperation agreement signed at the end of 2024. European and Japanese companies and trade associations emphasised “the need to accelerate the strengthening of the resilience of their supply chains and to explore the development of dual-use technologies (for both civilian and military use, ed.).” Furthermore, both sides confirmed their shared priority of strengthening their industrial bases and building on the closer cooperation initiated by the partnership signed two years ago. 

These commitments paint a picture of a Europe that aims to extend its partnerships with Asian countries beyond the more traditional commercial sphere: military cooperation agreements similar to the one with Japan have recently been signed with India (January 2026) and South Korea (November 2024).