[Interview] If Democrats Retake the House, "Procedural War" Over Tariffs Looms... Kim Dongseok: "Korea Must Expand Congressional Engagement" [US Midterms] ③

If Democrats Take the House, Aggressive USTR Investigations and Hearings Are Expected
"Why Impose Tariffs on Korea and Canada?" — Congress to Press for Rationale and Impact on Prices
Prolonged Lawsuits If President Pushes Ahead
Growing Importance for Korea to Engage with Congress

Dongseok Kim, President of the Korean American Voters Coalition.

There are predictions that if the Democratic Party retakes the House of Representatives in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections this November, a full-scale “procedural war” over the Trump administration’s tariff policies could erupt. Observers expect that Congress will summon the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate the rationale and process used to impose tariffs on countries such as Korea and Canada, as well as examine the impact of these tariffs on domestic prices in the United States. For countries like Korea that have been affected by Trump's tariffs, this means there could be an expanded political space to raise questions about the transparency and legitimacy of the tariff decision-making process compared to the current situation.

Dongseok Kim, President of the Korean American Voters Alliance of North America, said in an interview with The Asia Business Daily that if the Democratic Party gains control of the House, "In the area of trade, the first step would likely be to call in USTR to scrutinize tariff policies." Kim explained, "In the U.S. Congress, the majority party chairs every standing committee," and added, "Committee chairs can lead on agenda scheduling, selecting witnesses, and overseeing investigations and subpoenas."

There is a strong possibility that each standing committee will compete to investigate policies promoted by the Trump administration over the past two years. In particular, Kim noted that in the area of tariffs and trade, "The committee chairs could summon USTR to keep pressing questions such as ‘Why were such tariffs imposed on Korea or Canada?’ and ‘Was an actual need-based investigation conducted?’" He continued, "Hearings could be held to determine whether the tariffs benefit U.S. interests and how they affect inflation in America, which means there would be a degree of control and oversight over tariff policy." President Trump has imposed tariffs on various countries based on existing statutes such as Section 301 of the Trade Act and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

He also pointed out the need for Korea to make strategic use of these circumstances. However, he added that even if Congress examines the procedures and economic effects of tariffs, it cannot immediately halt the president’s tariff policies. Kim stressed that even if the Democratic Party secures the House majority and exercises heavy oversight over USTR, there are limits to what can be done if the president acts within his authority under existing law.

Therefore, Kim advised that rather than simply expecting tariff relief if the Democrats win the House in the upcoming midterm elections, each country should prepare response strategies aligned with the shifting power structure. From the perspective of Korean companies, he emphasized the growing importance of shifting from the current trade policy approach, which only interacts with the White House and USTR, to actively explaining to Congress how tariffs affect U.S. jobs, consumer prices, and supply chains.

He concluded, “Even if the president exercises his authority against the wishes of the House majority, the only option left is to file a lawsuit,” adding that, “Lawsuits usually take a considerable amount of time to reach a conclusion.”

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