The ROK government is striving for the designation of the GIC as an
outward processing zone (OPZ) in free trade agreements (FTAs) to assist
GIC companies in finding new markets for their products. Regarding the
recognition of GIC-made goods as being made in the ROK in the Korea-U.S.
FTA and the Korea-EU FTA, it was agreed that a Committee on Outward
Processing Zones on the Korean Peninsula would be installed a year after
the FTAs became effective to discuss the designation of the GIC and some
other regions in North Korea as OPZs according to certain criteria. Thus, the
ROK government is exerting multifaceted efforts through this committee to
get GIC-made products recognized as goods made in South Korea so that they
will receive preferential tariff treatment.