Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath is on a visit to South Korea and Japan as the European Union continues to seek to strengthen alliances in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s aggressive approach to global trade.
Mr McGrath will meet political and business leaders, as well as consumer organisations, in both countries, with a view to strengthening cooperation on data and consumer protection and support for Ukraine.
In a statement, Mr McGrath said the mission aimed to "reinforce the EU’s strategic partnerships with two of its most important trading and economic allies".
"A key focus of the visit will be strengthening cooperation in areas where the EU, Korea, and Japan share deep commitments - namely, consumer protection and data protection.
"Like the EU, both partners prioritise high product safety standards, backed by strong enforcement and consumer education, to ensure that only safe products reach consumers. All three jurisdictions are also aligned in their commitment to safeguarding personal data and upholding robust privacy frameworks."
In Korea, Mr McGrath, the EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, will address the 47th Global Privacy Assembly on the relationship between Artificial Intelligence innovation and data protection.
On the margins of the meeting he will meet counterparts from the US Federal Trade Commission, the Australian Data Protection Authority, and the Brazilian Data Protection Authority to discuss cross-border data flows, which are seen as important in trade, competitiveness, and digital innovation.
There has been a rapid growth in e-commerce, both within the EU single market, and in global trade; around 12 million parcels arrive daily in the EU, 91% of which originate in China.
The EU has been investigating suggestions that a high proportion of products sold via online platforms fail to meet EU safety standards.
Mr McGrath is expected to raise this issue with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts. He will also raise the Commission’s upcoming Digital Fairness Act, scheduled for adoption in late 2026, which aims to address unfair online commercial practices such as so-called dark patterns, influencer marketing and "addictive design".
The Commissioner will meet Japan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hisayuki Fuji, "to reaffirm the EU and Japan’s shared commitment to supporting Ukraine".
