Korea's Trade Chief Engages U.S. to Address Digital Policy Concerns

The South Korean government has launched an active campaign to address U.S. concerns regarding the Section 301 tariff measures and domestic digital regulations, including the Coupang incident.

According to Yonhap News on July 25, Yeo Han-goo, head of the Trade Negotiation Bureau, visited Washington, D.C., from July 21 to 24 to engage in in-depth discussions on key trade issues with U.S. government officials, lawmakers, and industry leaders.

During this visit, Yeo met with ten U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Bill Hagerty and Representative Adrian Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, to clearly convey that South Korea's digital laws and policies do not discriminate against U.S. companies.

He emphasized the need for close cooperation in critical industries such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, and energy, reminding them that South Korea is one of the largest investors in the U.S. He also urged for active support from the U.S. Congress to strengthen the mutually beneficial economic relationship between the two countries.

Yeo joined a delegation from the Korea-U.S. Congressional Friendship Group, led by Representative Shin Dong-hoon, to meet with Senators Steve Daines and Brad Schneider, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing Korea-U.S. relations.

Additionally, in meetings with major U.S. tech companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Qualcomm, he reiterated that South Korean government policies do not apply discriminatory practices against U.S. firms.

Earlier, on July 21, just before the legal expiration date of the global tariff (10%) under Section 122 of the U.S. Trade Act, Yeo met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to confirm plans for future actions regarding the Section 301 investigation.

At that meeting, he conveyed the South Korean government's position that the balance of benefits under the existing Korea-U.S. tariff agreement must be maintained.