▲ This photo, released by Reuters, shows U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer arriving for U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

USTR-S Korea

USTR says S. Korea commits its laws, policies on digital services won't discriminate against U.S. firms

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Yonhap) -- The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said Monday that South Korea has committed that its laws and policies on digital services will not discriminate against American companies, as it released a 2026 trade policy agenda report.

The USTR office mentioned Seoul's commitment in the report, pointing to a joint fact sheet that Seoul and Washington released in November to outline security and trade agreements from two summits between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October.

The report came as U.S. lawmakers and investors have taken issue with South Korea's ongoing investigation into a massive data leak by e-commerce giant Coupang Inc, a U.S.-listed firm.

"Korea also committed that its laws and policies on digital services, including network usage fees and online competition regulations, will not discriminate against U.S. companies and to facilitate cross-border transfer of data," the office said in the report.

It also pointed out last year's bilateral trade and investment agreement, under which it said Seoul committed to invest US$350 billion to rebuild the American manufacturing base in critical sectors, including $150 billion dedicated to the shipbuilding industry.

"Korea committed to eliminate the 50,000-unit cap on U.S.-originating FMVSS-compliant vehicles that can enter Korea without further modifications and not require additional documentation in its emissions certification process," the report said of the agreement. FMVSS stands for federal motor vehicle safety standards.

"Korea also committed to address NTBs affecting trade in food and agricultural products," it added, referring to non-tariff barriers.

In the report, the office outlined a series of policy goals, including pursuing "robust" enforcement of the Trump administration's "reciprocal" trade program and other trade agreements, securing supply chains for critical minerals, managing trade with China "for reciprocity and balance," and conducting the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

It also stressed that the USTR will continue "robust" efforts to combat "unreasonable and discriminatory" measures that burden or restrict U.S. commerce through existing actions under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act -- a key legal provision to replace emergency tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]