Analyses of Trade Trends and Competitiveness of Korea and Vietnam in Forest Products

This study is design to provide basic directions that Korea can take in forestry negotiation of Korea- Vietnam FTA. Trade trends and characteristics of forestry sector are figured out and the competitiveness of main products are analyzed. The trade amount between Korea and Vietnam is $207,260 thousand. Korea exports nontimber products to Vietnam, while she mainly imports wood products. The average import value of wood products during recent five years accounts for 88% of all value from Vietnam. The export items are not various, and the export value is small. The amount of imports, however, which are mainly composed of low price wood products, is relatively big. The results of analysis say that three items of Korean forest products have competitiveness, while Vietnam has eleven items. According to the study it is recommended that a sawn wood and a plywood should be classified as sensitive products to minimize and to take a long term tariff reduction.