Washington: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that South Korea has pledged to ensure its laws and policies related to digital services do not discriminate against American companies. This announcement was part of the 2026 trade policy agenda report released on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the USTR pointed to a joint fact sheet released in November that outlined security and trade agreements forged during summits between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October. This report emerges as U.S. lawmakers and investors raise concerns over South Korea's investigation into a significant data leak involving Coupang Inc, a firm listed in the U.S.
The report details Seoul's commitment to non-discriminatory digital service laws, including network usage fees and online competition regulations, which aim to facilitate cross-border data transfer. Additionally, a bilateral trade and investment agreement from the previous year was highlighted, noting Seoul's commitment to invest $350 billion in rebuilding the American manufacturing base, with $150 billion specifically for the shipbuilding industry.
Further commitments from South Korea include eliminating the 50,000-unit cap on U.S.-originating FMVSS-compliant vehicles entering Korea without modifications and easing documentation requirements in emissions certification. The agreement also addresses non-tariff barriers affecting trade in food and agricultural products.
The USTR report outlines several policy goals, such as enforcing the Trump administration's "reciprocal" trade program, securing critical mineral supply chains, managing trade with China, and reviewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The USTR emphasized its commitment to combating measures that burden or restrict U.S. commerce through actions under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.