The European Union and South Korea on Wednesday signed a digital trade agreement aimed at simplifying cross-border digital transactions and strengthening economic ties. The deal was reached at their first summit in three years.
The digital agreement, along with other cooperative measures on sharing classified security information and passenger data, reflects both parties’ efforts to build new alliances and reinforce existing partnerships.
This comes at a time of heightened global uncertainty, including U.S. tariffs, Chinese export restrictions, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Building on a free-trade agreement that came into force in 2011, the new digital pact seeks to:
The agreement is expected to lower costs for businesses and boost trade in services. Currently, the EU is South Korea’s third-largest trading partner in goods, while South Korea ranks as the EU’s eighth-largest.
The deal highlights the EU’s ambition to set global standards for digital trade, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. The EU has already signed digital agreements with Singapore, Japan, and digital components in trade deals with the UK, Chile, and New Zealand.
According to the World Trade Organization, digitally delivered services trade in 2025 was approximately five times higher than in 2005, with 10% growth over the past three years, outpacing goods and other services trade. The EU is the world’s largest services exporter, nearly half of which are digital.
The agreement will require approval from the European Parliament before coming into full effect.
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The United States launched overnight strikes on military targets across Iran, as President Donald Trump warns of further attacks unless a peace deal is reached. Iran responded by targeting U.S. bases in the Gulf and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 11 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Bill Gates has told members of Congress that he “did not fully understand the extent” of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes during the period in which he associated with the late convicted sex offender while seeking support for his philanthropic work.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
A Sudanese man has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that left a man seriously injured and prompted calls online for a protest after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 11 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Bill Gates has told members of Congress that he “did not fully understand the extent” of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes during the period in which he associated with the late convicted sex offender while seeking support for his philanthropic work.
Pope Leo visited Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia on Wednesday to inaugurate its newest geometric spire, making the modernist masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí the world’s tallest church.
As global diplomatic dynamics continue to evolve, the European Union is reassessing its ability to respond effectively to major international developments, prompting renewed debate over defence coordination, foreign policy decision-making and institutional reform.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of a kind when it kicks off on 11 June, as it brings with it a slew of firsts ahead of co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match.
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