A Case Study on the Non-tariff Barriers of Korean Exported Seafood

As countries around the world are strengthening regulatory barriers in the name of protecting their own industries and enhancing hygiene and safety of food, it is becoming an obstacle to expanding seafood exports. Unlike tariffs that are easy to quantify, NTBs operate in different forms, such as laws and systems in each country, making it difficult to understand the contents and find solutions due to complexity. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the current status of the WTO&quots SPS and TBT notifications and seafood product import refusals data and restriction cases in major countries to understand the global trend of seafood NTBs, and the actual trade barriers that our seafood export industry is actually facing. Through this, we aimed to suggest implications for proactive measures against NTBs in major exporting countries. According to the analysis, the main reason for the import refusal of Korean seafood is the ingredient issue, which does not meet the standards for each country. This means that special efforts of export companies are required. In addition, this study examined the cases of NTBs to seafood in major countries. They can be categorized into seven types, including different standards from those in Korea, sanitary and quarantine systems, food labeling regulations, etc. Through in-depth research for each case, countermeasures were derived. As a result, non-tariff barriers are expected to continue to expand and strengthen in the future, so to enhance the competitiveness of Korean seafood and expand exports, it is necessary to strengthen monitoring of regulatory barriers in export target countries and expand the provision of information such as regular training and consulting so that companies can prepare in advance.