Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Seoul submits opinion letter to USTR office on trade practices investigations and concerns

The Seoul government has submitted a formal opinion letter to the United States on the ongoing probes into Korea and other nations involving what it calls “unfair” trade practices related to structural excess production and forced labor.

2026-04-16

USTR report focuses on Korea's AI procurement, digital regulation and forced labor issues

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released an annual report on foreign trade barriers that cited Korea's AI procurement practice, digital regulations and forced labor-linked issues.

2026-04-01

U.S. says Korea, 3 other WTO members keep developing country status despite pledge to forgo special treatment

The United States said Monday that Korea and three other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) maintained their self-declared developing status despite their pledge to forgo special and differential treatment (SDT) in WTO negotiations.

2026-03-24

Seoul to maintain communications with Washington over USTR probe on forced labor-linked imports

The government announced Friday it will continue consultations with the United States to protect national interests after Washington opened new investigations into Korea and 59 other economies over imports of goods produced with alleged forced labor.

2026-03-13

USTR launches investigations into Korea, 59 other economies over failure to ban forced labor-linked imports

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) opened investigations into 60 economies, including Korea, China and Japan, to determine whether their governments have taken steps to ban the importation of goods produced with forced labor.

2026-03-13

Seoul calls for fairness as Washington opens probe into manufacturing excess

Korean diplomats on Thursday called on Washington to guarantee fairness in a new trade investigation, warning that the probe into excess capacity in manufacturing could undermine the "balance of interests" in the bilateral economic partnership.

2026-03-12

With $350B U.S. investment set to see daylight, new probe by Washington casts shadow on trade

Korea approved a special law on a $350 billion U.S. investment on Thursday, clearing the way for the pledge promised during tariff negotiations with Washington last year, removing the immediate threat of possible U.S. tariff hikes.

2026-03-12

USTR trade policy addresses Seoul's nontariff barrier pledges

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Monday declared the institutionalization of a trade policy that puts the United States first.

2026-03-03

USTR says new U.S. global tariff will rise to 15% or higher for some countries

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday that a new U.S. global tariff will rise to 15 percent or higher from 10 percent for some countries, as the Trump administration is taking steps to replace its sweeping emergency tariffs.

2026-02-26

Korea 'not making predictions' as Trump unsheathes new trade war weapon

The Donald Trump administration is considering adding a new tariff weapon, Section 301 of the Trade Act, to impose country- and product-specific duties after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked its reciprocal tariffs.

2026-02-23