Guest Q&A|LEE Hee-sup: Industry Shifts in the Age of Convergence

摘要：The stability of the global multilateral trade system has been shaken by unilateral tariffs and widespread securitization through

The stability of the global multilateral trade system has been shaken by unilateral tariffs and widespread securitization through industrial policy. Which industries or fields do you think have been most affected? What measures should countries and international organizations take to mitigate the impact of this instability?

LEE Hee-sup

Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS)

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution accelerates, the convergence of technology, trade, and security is intensifying.

The resulting shift in industrial policies across nations has fueled protectionism, posing a serious challenge to global free trade and multilateral trade systems.

In today's global landscape, the increasing interdependence of economy and security is making it even more difficult to separate politics from economic affairs. This shift is driving a transition from an era of free trade to one dominated by industrial policy and protectionism. As a result, complementary industrial relationships, once sustained by interconnected supply chains, are weakening, giving way to intense competition and growing economic divisions.

This rapid paradigm shift is driving heightened competition in cutting-edge industries, particularly in semiconductors, AI, and quantum computing—sectors expected to experience the greatest impact.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder that no country can survive in isolation, no matter how advanced its technological capabilities. We have witnessed firsthand that only through cooperation can we ensure collective survival. If nations continue down the path of economic nationalism and unilateralism, the result will be mutual loss rather than gain. Recognizing that coexistence and shared prosperity are the only sustainable paths forward, the global community must renew efforts to establish an open, fair, transparent, and rules-based free trade system.

While competition and protectionism in high-tech industries will inevitably intensify, it is equally important to enhance regional cooperation and leverage international organizations to establish common standards for technology regulations, digital trade norms, and cybersecurity. In parallel, efforts must be strengthened to build multi-layered cooperation platforms to stabilize supply chains and counter the effects of regional economic fragmentation and protectionism.

Moving forward, nations must work through regional cooperation mechanisms, multilateral frameworks, and international organizations to effectively manage the risks of this global transition. It is crucial to strike a balance between competition, rivalry, and cooperation, while also preventing the current situation from escalating into unintended crises. To achieve a more stable and sustainable international order, we must collectively enhance conflict prevention, crisis management, and dispute resolution mechanisms, while expanding areas of common interest and fostering deeper global collaboration.