The East Asia Institute held the seventh online seminar of the COVID-19 and the New World Order series titled “ The International Trade Order in Disarray: Possible Strategies of US and Korea.” Recently, the international trade order has been greatly disrupted by the rise of US protectionism, China’s return to the state-capitalism model, and the intensification of deglobalization by COVID-19. Therefore, middle power trade diplomacy has created mega FTAs to stabilize the trade order. Experts discussed the effects of U.S.-China strategic competition on the trade order, the benefits, challenges, and obstacles of the CPTPP, and the steps Korea should take in the changing trade order.

The following are the main topics of the online seminar:

• Expansion of the CPTPP and why it is necessary
• The Challenges and Obstacles of Joining the CPTPP
• Obstacles for South Korea
• Concerns Regarding the U.S. and China in the CPTPP
• WTO Reforms