Sukhanov Ivan A.

This article analyzes the role of Rules of Origin in the integration strategy of the Republic of Korea, focusing on its signifi for the effective functioning of Free.Trade Agreements (FTAs). It explores the key aspects of the formation and application of these agreements, with particular emphasis on the unique approaches the Republic of Korea applies negotiating preferential trade agreements with various countries. An important element is the analysis of the Rules of Origin of goods that regulate which products fall under preferential tariffs, and also establish requirements for its origin. The paper primarily examines three core models of Rules of Origin used in integration projects: North American, Pan-European, and ASEAN. For each model, the article discusses the application of criteria such as tariff classifi changes, ad valorem percentage, and specifi processing, as well as practical examples of its usage in South Korea's integration architecture. Additionally, the paper analyzes different verifi methods for goods - direct, indirect, and combined - based on the contractual terms between FTAs participating countries. The research highlights how the Republic of Korea strategically combines these approaches to effectively expand its export opportunities safeguarding the interests of domestic producers and minimizing economic risks. The author emphasizes the importance of technical aspects in implemented integration projects for successful integration into the global economy and ensuring the country's economic security.

Limitations of the World Trade Organization system have pushed countries to intensify an independent cooperation agenda through development of bilateral relations outside the WTO. In the international economic space, from the geographical point of view, three basic trade blocs can be identified: the European bloc, the North American bloc and the East Asian bloc, with each having its own way of creating cooperation ties. In East Asia, the Big Three of Northeast Asia (the Republic of Korea, Japan and China) as well as Singapore play leading roles in intensification of cooperative ties. At the same time, Japan was one of the first states in the region that based its cooperation policy on several models that became a template for other East Asian countries. Thus, since 2003 the Republic of Korea has been implementing an FTA strategy and has been applying models of cooperation tested by Japan. Major models include: the «North-South» model, the «Flying Geese» paradigm, the «Core-Periphery» model and the «Hub-and-Spokes» model. It is important to note that models do not function separately, but form integration architecture for the countries, based on the objectives and specifics of cooperative ties. At the same time, the initiator in these forms of cooperation is the corporate sector: for example, keiretsu in Japan and chaebols in the Republic of Korea. Business needs are carried to the state/interstate level and can act as a trigger for establishment of regional trade agreements that allow create vertical and horizontal links determining stability of the international economic structure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted global trade in goods and services and has exposed weaknesses in the existing structures for international interaction within the global value chains in the Asia-Pacific region, including the United States of America, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The dependence of these economies on the People's Republic of China negatively affected the production processes of the largest industrial companies. To minimize the existing risks, countries are actively participating in and developing free trade agreements, which helps to diversify the geography of participants in global value chains and sales markets. The Government of the Republic of Korea has demonstrated its ability to effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing its own strategy of preventive measures and economic stimulus measures. In addition, two new foreign economic initiatives were launched: the New Southern Policy and the New Northern Policy, which could be based on existing and new free trade agreements. Active involvement in global value chains and participation in free trade agreements allowed the Republic of Korea to increase its competitive advantages in the world market and develop its economic potential. The diversification of trading partners under free trade agreements had a positive impact on the country's economic performance during the pandemic and helped to minimize the negative impact of disruptions in foreign trade. The Russian Federation has the opportunity to integrate into new foreign economic trends in South Korea, and there are opportunities to increase the volume of mutual trade between the countries. One of the ways to achieve this goal may be the signing of a bilateral agreement of a free trade zone between the Republic of Korea and the Eurasian Economic Union.

In 2018 two national projects: Small Business and Support of Individual Entrepreneurial Initiative Project and International Cooperation and Exports Project were launched in the Russian Federation within the framework of the state reform. They were approved at a meeting of the General Committee of the Presidential Council for Strategic Development and National Projects and became another development milestone of the government system for international cooperation including promotion of small and medium companies. The best world practices should become a major building element for successful implementation of national projects. They will help effectively open up export prospects of Russia, first of all through a state system for promotion of international trade. The Republic of Korea is one of the leaders in terms of generating its GDP by exports, and the national export support system that has been proving its effectiveness since 1960th has a valuable hands-on experience for the Russian Federation.