The EU and Korea (Rep.) signed a landmark Digital Trade Agreement on 10 June 2026, establishing high-standard rules for digital trade and complementing their 2011 Free Trade Agreement. The deal enables electronic contracts, facilitates cross-border data flows, and prohibits mandatory source code transfer while maintaining data protection standards. EU ratification requires European Parliament consent.
The EU and Korea (Rep.) signed a Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) during the EU-Korea (Rep.) Summit held in Brussels on 10 June 2026.
This DTA demonstrates the shared commitment to promote open, transparent, and rules-based trade. It is also in line with the EU’s broader commitment to establishing future-oriented digital trade rules with trusted, like-minded partners in a time of increasing global tensions and economic fragmentation.
The DTA complements the EU-Korea (Rep.) Free Trade Agreement – in place since 2011 – with binding high-standard digital trade rules. These include, for instance, recognising the legal validity and enforceability of electronic contracts and enabling the use of electronic signature. The Agreement will bring new opportunities for consumers and businesses, notably for micro, small and medium enterprises.
The Agreement will also enhance consumer safety and confidence in the digital economy, through robust online consumer protection rules. A trusted digital environment is essential for digital trade to function and, importantly, prosper.
In addition, the agreement facilitates cross-border data flows and prohibits the mandatory transfer of source code. At the same time, both the EU and Korea (Rep.) will maintain their respective high levels of protection for personal data and privacy, as well as the regulatory space for pursuing legitimate policy objectives.
Following the signature of the DTA by EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Šefčovič and Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, the EU and Korea (Rep.) will follow their respective procedures for the ratification of the agreement. On the EU’s side, the ratification will require the consent of the European Parliament. The agreement will subsequently be formally concluded by the Council.
