
Factbox-Big tech rules, agriculture among issues in US trade talks with South Korea
Trade talks between South Korea and its second-biggest trading partner have so far focused mainly on non-tariff barriers, as the Asian country already imposes near-zero tariffs on U.S. imports under a free trade agreement, according to South Korean officials.Here is a list of some of the issues that have arisen around negotiations:
DIGITAL SERVICES
South Korea's trade minister, Yeo Han-koo, has said the digital sector is one of the most important areas during the ongoing tariff negotiations.
The government has a number of legislative proposals to regulate giant tech companies at home and abroad, which President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to enact to tackle abuses of market dominance and protect smaller companies.
In a letter dated July 1, U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith and 42 colleagues wrote to U.S. trade negotiators that the legislation, which they said mirrors the European Union's "discriminatory Digital Markets Act," would disproportionately target American companies while exempting major Chinese digital giants such as ByteDance, Alibaba and Temu.
South Korea's ruling party is seeking to "slow down" antitrust legislation on tech giants, including U.S.-based Google, Apple, Facebook and Korea's Naver and Kakao, in light of trade issues and its sensitivity, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-geun told Reuters on Monday.
NETFLIX, GOOGLE MAPS
South Korea's requirements on content providers, such as Netflix, to pay network usage fees and restrictions on the export of location-based data by Google and other suppliers were also mentioned in the U.S. foreign trade barriers report released in March.
In 2016, South Korea rejected Google's request for permission to use detailed mapping data in servers outside the country, citing security issues with North Korea. Seoul is set to rule on Google's fresh request on location-based data on August 11. Apple has also reportedly made a similar request on maps.
BEEF, APPLES
Washington is demanding better access to the agriculture, auto and digital sectors during ongoing negotiations, South Korea's trade minister said.
South Korea, the world's biggest buyer of U.S. beef, restricts imports derived from animals older than 30 months, citing concerns over mad cow disease. The U.S. also has long made market access requests for other agricultural items, such as potatoes and apples.
There is, however, domestic concern about opening up the market further, after earlier negotiations where Seoul agreed to lower beef tariffs to 0% by 2026 in a bilateral free trade pact in 2007.
The trade ministry will emphasise the sensitivity of the agricultural sector at the negotiations, director Chang Sung-gil said at a public hearing on June 30, where farmers' groups attended to protest.
South Korea's tariff of more than 500% on rice imports, which was highlighted by U.S. President Donald Trump in a speech, has not been raised during working-level discussions, according to a senior South Korean official.
DEFENCE COSTS, FOREIGN EXCHANGE
The issues of foreign exchange policy and cost sharing for some 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea are being discussed via separate finance and defence channels, officials have said.
INVESTMENTS
Trade officials have emphasised that industrial cooperation, particularly in the shipbuilding industry, will contribute to the revitalisation of the U.S. manufacturing sector and decrease U.S. trade deficits. Trade Minister Yeo said South Korea plays a leading role in artificial intelligence, chips, batteries, cars and semiconductors.
ALASKA LNG PROJECT
While South Korea is considering more energy purchases, officials have expressed caution when it comes to participation in an Alaska gas project.
Although South Korea has shown interest in the $44 billion LNG project in Alaska, the trade minister said the feasibility of the project was still not clear and the U.S. would only provide technical information later in the year.
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee and Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Ed Davies and Saad Sayeed)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Anwar: Meeting with Myanmar junta under Asean mandate
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim defended his meeting with Myanmar junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok last April, stating that it was conducted under an Asean mandate. Anwar stressed that the first such meeting by an Asean chair since the 2021 coup was mandated to secure a ceasefire and enable post-earthquake humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquake on March 28 in Myanmar. He said the matter was discussed with all the leaders of Asean, and none objected. "I came with that mandate. Number one, ceasefire. Of course, there may be one or two scuffles, but then it was agreed. "Number two, humanitarian assistance, transparent, no discrimination. We had our field hospital from the military, from Malaysia to serve all from all regions (in Myanmar)," he said in an interview with France 24 published on the network's digital platforms today. The Prime Minister met Min Aung Hlaing, who is also the Chairman of Myanmar's State Administration Council, in Bangkok on April 18 during his two-day working visit to Thailand. Anwar described the engagement as a strategic shift from Asean's previous non-engagement policy, which had failed to produce results. "But at least now, for a month, there's been a ceasefire. Yes, there have been complaints of one or two incidents, but not the continued bombings and destruction," he said. On the issue of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Anwar said Malaysia takes a consistent and balanced approach, adding that the country has maritime borders with multiple neighbours. "Malaysia is a maritime country. We have border issues with all our neighbours, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam. But we didn't go to war," he said. Anwar stressed that Malaysia supports Asean's collective position in urging China and all involved parties to agree on a Code of Conduct. "For 20 years, this has not happened. But the Chinese responded in Jakarta last year. They said yes, they will look at it. They are supportive," he said, adding that efforts will continue. When asked about the possibility of an actual war between the US and China over Taiwan, Anwar said he is not overly concerned about the risk of military conflict, expressing confidence that both sides would avoid war. "No, I'm not that pessimistic because I think both leaders would want to avoid war. Whatever you may say about President Donald Trump, he represents a position, a president in the US that does not want or encourage wars." Anwar also highlighted China's stance, based on his engagements with President Xi Jinping, saying the Chinese leader has been very firm on the issue of avoiding any sort of violent reaction or offensive against any country. - BERNAMA


Malaysia Sun
3 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
China's Hebei province a growing tourist hotspot for Malaysians, official says
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Xinhua) -- North China's Hebei Province is fast becoming a tourist hotspot for Malaysians seeking to experience the country, an official from Malaysia's tourism promotion agency said here on Monday. The rich history and cultural heritage of the province, along with its many unique attractions, make it an attractive option for Malaysians seeking to deepen their understanding of China while gaining unique experiences, Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, senior director of International Promotion Division for Asia and Africa at Tourism Malaysia, said in her remarks at a tourism promotion event at the China Cultural Center in Kuala Lumpur. "Today's event not only opens a window for Malaysians to explore the beauty and spirit of Hebei, but also reinforces the strong cultural ties and growing tourism exchange between China and Malaysia. We believe that events like these foster deeper mutual understanding and pave the way for greater people-to-people connectivity," she said. Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia Zheng Xuefang said the proximity of Malaysia to China and the strong ties between the two have facilitated people-to-people exchanges, particularly through tourism, which continues to benefit both countries. "Tourism serves as an important vehicle for people-to-people exchange between China and Malaysia. It is a new engine for bilateral economic cooperation and also a vital bridge connecting the hearts of people," he said, adding that China and Malaysia are key source markets for each other's tourism industries. The "Exploring Hebei with Intangible Cultural Heritage" cultural and tourism promotion event featured an exhibition of traditional crafts from the province, including intricate bas-reliefs, paper cutting and pottery, as well as a cultural show demonstrating traditional Chinese opera.


New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Freed from jail, Columbia University activist seizes his new platform
United States President Donald Trump's fight with elite American universities was only a few days old when federal immigration agents arrested the Palestinian student activist at his Columbia University apartment building in New York in March. During the three months Khalil was held at a jail for immigrants in rural Louisiana, the Trump administration escalated its battle. The administration also arrested other foreign pro-Palestinian students. It revoked billions of dollars in research grants to Columbia, Harvard and other private schools. These campuses had been embroiled in the growing student protest movement — a movement in which Khalil played a prominent role. ADVERTISING "I absolutely don't regret standing up against a genocide," Khalil, 30, said in an interview at his Manhattan apartment, less than two weeks after US district judge Michael Farbiarz ordered him released on bail while he challenges the effort to revoke his permanent residency green card and deport him. He believes the government is trying to silence him, but has instead given him a bigger platform. Returning to New York after his release, Khalil was welcomed at the airport by US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a political foe of Trump. Supporters waved Palestinian flags as he reunited with his wife and infant son, whose birth he missed in jail. Two days later, he was the star of a rally on the steps of a cathedral near Columbia's Manhattan campus, castigating the university's leaders. "I did not choose to be in this position: ICE did," Khalil said, referring to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who arrested him. He missed his May graduation ceremony and emerged from jail unemployed. The government could win its appeal and jail him again, so Khalil said his priority is spending as much time as possible with his son and wife, a dentist. Khalil was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria; his wife, Dr Noor Abdalla, is a US citizen and he became a US lawful permanent resident last year. Khalil moved to New York in 2022 to begin graduate studies. He soon became a key student negotiator between Columbia's administration and protesters. The demonstrators set up tent encampments on campus, demanding the university divest its US$14 billion endowment from weapons manufacturers and companies supporting Israel's military. Khalil has not been charged with any crime. However, the US government is invoking an obscure immigration statute. It argues that Khalil and other international pro-Palestinian students should be deported because their "otherwise lawful" speech could harm US foreign policy interests. The federal judge overseeing the case has ruled that the Trump administration's main rationale for deporting Khalil is likely an unconstitutional violation of free-speech rights. The government is appealing. Khalil, in the interview, condemned anti-Semitism and called Jewish students an "integral part" of the protest movement. He said the government was using anti-Semitism as a pretext to reshape American higher education, which Trump, a Republican, has said is captured by anti-American, Marxist and "radical left" ideologies. The Trump administration has warned Columbia and other universities that federal research grants — mostly for biomedical work — will not be restored unless the government is given more oversight. This includes control over admissions, hiring and academic content. The administration says this is necessary to ensure intellectual diversity. Unlike Harvard, Columbia has not challenged the legality of the grant revocations. The university has agreed to at least some of the Trump administration's demands. He urged Columbia and other universities targeted by Trump to heed their students.