Seoul – The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and the state of Arkansas solidified their commitment to enhancing bilateral trade and investment through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in Seoul. The agreement aims to bolster economic ties between South Korean businesses and the U.S. state, with both parties eyeing mutual benefits and growth opportunities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, KITA Chairman Yoon Jin-sik and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the former White House press secretary under Donald Trump, finalized the MOU during the South Korea-U.S. Economic Council meeting. Governor Sanders’s visit to Seoul, part of a broader trade mission that includes Japan, underscores her state’s interest in nurturing economic relationships with key Asian markets.
During the event, Chairman Yoon addressed concerns regarding potential shifts in U.S. trade policies and the challenges South Korean workers face in obtaining U.S. visas. He appealed to Governor Sanders for support in these areas to ensure smoother operations for South Korean companies in the United States.
Governor Sanders highlighted Arkansas’s readiness to welcome South Korean businesses, emphasizing her state’s commitment to fostering an open and conducive environment for international investors. However, when queried about the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on South Korean enterprises and the possibility of its revision, Sanders refrained from direct comments on policy specifics. She instead reiterated her focus on strengthening Arkansas’s economic partnership with South Korea.
The meeting also touched on broader political themes, with Sanders commenting on the potential policy directions under a hypothetical return of Donald Trump to the presidency. She emphasized the collaborative nature of U.S. governance while expressing her personal preference for Trump over the current administration.