U.S. Trade Representative: "Seeking Results in the Digital Sector, Whether It’s the EU, Australia, or Korea"

Jamison Greer, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), mentioned Korea on the 22nd (local time), expressing his hope for outcomes in the digital regulatory sector that would benefit the United States.

Jamie Greer, United States Trade Representative (USTR). Photo by AP Yonhap News

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Appearing before a U.S. House hearing that day, Greer was asked, "USTR has said it may conduct a Section 301 investigation on digital matters-when do you expect this, and will countries like the European Union (EU), Korea, Australia, and Canada be the focus?" He replied, "That is an area we are quite focused on."

Greer stated, "We want to ensure that other countries do not discriminate against (U.S.) companies, do not impose excessive burdens, or use them as cash cows," adding, "I want to see results in these countries-be it the EU, Australia, Korea, or EU member states."

He explained that while Section 301 of the Trade Act provides the U.S. with options for action, this is not a situation where Section 301 would be used to impose tariffs. Section 301 of the Trade Act authorizes the U.S. administration to respond to "unjust, unreasonable, or discriminatory acts, policies, or practices" by foreign governments related to trade, including by imposing tariffs.

Greer cited the example of France's attempt to raise its digital services tax to 6% before putting it on hold, saying, "We have tools at our disposal. If necessary, I expect we will use them. We want to achieve results through negotiation, but we will use the tools if needed."

Previously, Greer had launched a Section 301 investigation last month into overproduction and forced labor, and mentioned that digital services taxes, pharmaceutical pricing, and market access for rice were additional areas that could be subject to investigation.

In particular, digital issues are considered sensitive in the United States, where Big Tech companies wield significant influence. In its "2026 National Trade Estimate Report" (NTE Report) released on March 31 (local time), USTR once again pointed out Korea's digital platform regulation bill, restrictions on the overseas transfer of location-based data, and network usage fee policies as "non-tariff barriers," echoing longstanding complaints from U.S. Big Tech firms.

Meanwhile, at the hearing, Republican Congressman Mike Kelly urged Greer to address non-tariff barriers, stating that it is difficult to find American cars on Korean roads. He also recalled that the United States supported Korea during the Korean War.

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