Photo : YONHAP News
South Korean lawmakers have expressed concerns to U.S. officials on behalf of domestic firms during their visit to the capital, addressing potential Section 301 investigations initiated by the Trump administration.
According to a statement on Friday from Rep. Cho Kyung-tae of the main opposition People Power Party, a delegation of the bipartisan Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians’ Association, led by Cho, met with Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Fogel on Thursday.
During the meeting, the group conveyed the concerns of South Korean companies that U.S. Section 301 investigations — used to counter unfair trade practices — could result in new, damaging tariff barriers for South Korean firms.
According to Cho’s office, Fogel acknowledged their concerns and assured them that he would relay their messages to the relevant authorities, highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong economic partnership.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Trade Representative began Section 301 investigations into 16 economies, including South Korea, focusing on what the office described as “structural excess capacity” in manufacturing.
The move aims to address policies such as subsidies and state financing to protect U.S. manufacturing.