Canada-South Korea Automotive MOU: Strengthening Ties, Raising US Manufacturing Questions
On January 29, 2026, the Minister of Industry and the Presidential Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation of the Republic of Korea met to discuss expanding bilateral industrial cooperation. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed to strengthen Canada-Korea industrial collaboration, focusing on future mobility and establishing an industrial cooperation committee. This agreement aims to deepen the Canada-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by supporting investments in battery production, critical minerals, and domestic EV manufacturing. The collaboration seeks to diversify Canada’s economy, attract investments, and secure economic resilience by enhancing the automotive supply chain and cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, the clean energy transition, and energy security.
John Q. Hosedrinker