- Discussions on Policy Responses and Case Studies for Addressing Global Supply Chain Shifts -

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea hosted a “Capacity-Building Workshop on Resilient Supply Chains” on August 13, 2025, at Songdo Convensia in Incheon, on the occasion of the APEC Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3).

This workshop, which is part of Korea’s long-standing Capacity Building Needs Initiative (CBNI) launched in 2012, was organized in response to the growing uncertainty in global supply chains due to geopolitical tensions and pandemics. It reflects strong interest among APEC members in Korea’s policies and strategies for stable and resilient supply chain management.

※ Since 2012, Korea has led the CBNI to strengthen the FTA negotiation capacity of developing economies, a key element for advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda. Through CBNI Phases 1 (2012–14), 2 (2015–17), and 3 (2018–21), Korea has hosted over 40 workshops on topics including intellectual property, dispute settlement, services trade and investment, rules of origin, and e-commerce.

The workshop consisted of four thematic sessions: 1) Navigating Global Supply Chain Transitions 2) Sharing Best Practices on Supply Chain Resilience 3) Enhancing Supply Chain Visibility - Digital Tools 4) FTAs, RTAs, and Supply Chains: What's Missing and What's Needed.

More than 70 participants attended, including representatives from the 21 APEC member economies, multinational companies, and international organizations.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Lee Jiyoon, Korea’s APEC Senior Official, noted that “global supply chains, once optimized for cost efficiency, are now shifting toward structures that prioritize resilience.” She expressed hope that the workshop would offer practical support for APEC economies as they utilize digital technologies and institutional frameworks, such as free trade agreements, to address uncertainty and build resilient supply chains.

APEC participants expressed strong interest in the Korean government’s supply chain stabilization policies and its examples of digital technology adoption in customs and logistics. They also highlighted the value of the workshop’s in-depth analysis of supply chain-related provisions in FTAs and discussions on potential future improvements.

This event served not only to share Korea’s policy experience and expertise with APEC member economies but also to reinforce Korea’s leadership as the APEC 2025 host economy in promoting regional cooperation and solidarity to strengthen supply chain resilience across the Asia-Pacific.