Yeo Hangu Meets with 10 U.S. Lawmakers: "Korean Digital Policies Do Not Discriminate Against U.S. Companies"

Director General Yeo Hangu Visits the U.S. from July 21 to 24
In-depth Discussions on Key Trade Issues with U.S. Administration, Congress, and Industry

The government has initiated external engagements to respond to major trade issues such as Section 301 tariff measures under U.S. trade law and to address the U.S. side's concerns over domestic digital regulations including the Coupang incident.

Yeohan Goo, Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (right), is pictured on the 21st (local time) in Washington D.C., USA, posing for a commemorative photo with Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on July 25 that Yeohangu, Director General for Trade Negotiations, visited Washington, D.C. from July 21 to 24 (local time) to hold in-depth discussions with key figures from the U.S. administration, Congress, and industry on key bilateral trade issues.

During this period, Director General Yeo met with 10 members of the U.S. Senate and House, including Senator Bill Hagerty and Representative Adrian Smith, Chair of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, to clearly communicate that Korea’s digital laws and policies do not discriminate against U.S. businesses.

He emphasized that Korea is one of the largest investors in the United States and underscored the need for cooperation between the two countries in core industries such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, and energy. He called for strong Congressional support so that mutually beneficial economic ties between the two countries could be further solidified.

In addition, together with members of the Korea-U.S. Interparliamentary Exchange Council—Representatives Shin Donghoon (head), Bae Joon-young, Cho Jeonghun, and Cha Jiho, who were also visiting the United States—he jointly met with Senator Steve Daines and Representative Brad Schneider, expressing Korea’s commitment to strengthening Korea-U.S. relations.

Director General Yeo also made it clear during meetings with major U.S. digital firms—Google, Apple, AWS, Qualcomm, and others—that Korea’s government policies do not discriminate against U.S. companies.

Earlier, on July 21, ahead of the legal expiration deadline (July 24) for the global 10% tariff under Section 122 of U.S. trade law, Director General Yeo met with Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), to confirm the U.S. government’s future plans regarding Section 301 investigations and related measures.

At the meeting, he conveyed Korea’s position that the benefits under the Korea-U.S. tariff agreement must continue to be preserved in a balanced manner.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.