US USTR Representative Visits Korea After 10 Years... Meets Domestic Business Leaders Over the Weekend

Catherine Tai, United States Trade Representative (USTR), is arriving through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 18th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), who visited Korea, is expected to meet with major domestic business leaders this weekend.

According to the business community on the 18th, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) sent invitations arranging meetings between Representative Tai and major domestic companies such as Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, and Lotte. Mid-sized companies, including the top 10 conglomerates, were also included in the invitation list.

It is reported that Representative Tai’s side requested the FKI, which has a cooperative relationship with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to arrange meetings with major domestic companies.

Representative Tai, who had been visiting Japan since the 15th, arrived in Korea through Incheon Airport in the afternoon. She plans to meet consecutively with key government officials starting from the 19th. At 2 p.m. on the 19th, the "6th Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Joint Committee" is scheduled. At this meeting, discussions are expected between Ye Han-gu, Director-General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Representative Tai regarding the joint committee agenda and bilateral trade issues. On the same day, she is also expected to have a meeting with An Kyung-duk, Minister of Employment and Labor.

Current Korea-U.S. trade issues include cooperation to strengthen supply chains in core industries such as semiconductors, the U.S. government’s investigation into semiconductor companies’ supply chain data, steel tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, and cooperation on climate crisis response.

This is the first official visit by a U.S. USTR representative to Korea in 10 years since the Korea-U.S. FTA discussions were in full swing in 2011. Representative Tai will stay in Korea for a 3-night, 4-day schedule starting from this day.

Earlier in Japan, discussions were held regarding additional tariffs on Japanese steel under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. On the afternoon of the 21st, she will depart Korea and head to India.

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