바이든 행정부의 대중무역기조와 한국의 대응방안: 한국의 RCEP 가입과 미국의 TPP 복귀 시나리오 중심으로

Abstract

This study is a review of the nature of the US-China trade dispute and the future direction of global trade policy of the newly launched Biden administration. The purpose of this thesis is to present the correct direction for maximizing future interests of Korea. At the same time as the Trump administration was launched, the US imposed high tariffs on US imports based on the America First Policy and promoted a one-way trade policy to protect its own industries. As a result, global free trade was forced to retreat due to trade friction with China. In addition, both the US and China suffered losses due to decreased trade volume. However, as Biden was elected in the recent presidential election, the tone of unilateral diplomacy in the United States has changed to the tone of cooperation with the alliance. As a result, Biden also hinted at a return to the TPP, which was led by the Obama administration to contain China’s expansion in Asia, but withdrew from the Trump administration. Against this TPP, the RCEP, which was formed centered on China, was recently concluded and Korea joined the RCEP. In this situation, the US is expected to dislike Korea from joining the China-led RCEP, and China will conversely hate Korea from joining the US-led TPP. This study aims to suggest the direction in which Korea can gain profits while maintaining the justification in this situation.