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Reuters
13 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Big tech rules, agriculture among issues in US trade talks with South Korea
SEOUL, July 7 (Reuters) - South Korea was one of the first countries to start U.S. trade talks when both sides agreed in April to craft a package aimed at removing tariffs, but it is now seeking an extension to the 90-day pause on 25% tariffs set to expire on July 9. 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: 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 ( opens new tab and Temu. South Korea's ruling party is seeking to "slow down" antitrust legislation on tech giants, including U.S.-based Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, Facebook (META.O), opens new tab and Korea's Naver ( opens new tab and Kakao ( opens new tab, in light of trade issues and its sensitivity, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-geun told Reuters on Monday. South Korea's requirements on content providers, such as Netflix (NFLX.O), opens new tab, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Geek Girl Authority
5 days ago
- Business
- Geek Girl Authority
You've Got the Sales — Now Let's Build the Site
Your business blew up online, your product's got fans, and your DMs are turning into customer service queues — first of all, congrats. That's no small thing. But now, you're feeling that itch to go bigger, cleaner, more official. The kind of move that says, 'This isn't just a side hustle anymore — it's a real operation.' And yes, that often means finally launching your own website. If you're moving from selling in person and through social media into a dedicated site, there's more to consider than just slapping a logo on a homepage and adding a 'Buy Now' button. The move comes with a few smart upgrades and mindset shifts — and not the scary, techy kind. Your website is now your storefront, cash register, receptionist, and marketing team all rolled into one. It's not just a place to sell things — it's where people decide if they trust you, want to shop with you, and stick around long enough to tell their friends. This means it should be easy to use, easy to love, and easy to buy from. If someone lands on your site and has to squint to read your product descriptions or can't find the checkout button in under 10 seconds, you've already lost them. Your design doesn't need to be flashy — just clear, beautiful, and built with your customer in mind. This is your home turf now, so build it with intention, speak in your brand's real voice, and make it something people want to come back to. Here's where things shift: on social, the platform takes care of things like security, performance, and even payments. But once you've got your own site, that responsibility moves to you — and it's not as scary as it sounds. You need to know what hosting is (basically, where your site 'lives'), how to get that little padlock in your browser (it means your site's secure), and what a backup is (like a save button for everything). These aren't extras, just the essentials. You're managing a digital environment where people enter their personal info and payment details. So yes, even if the backend makes your eyes glaze over, it's worth investing a little time (or hiring help) to make sure everything runs as it should. On Instagram, hashtags helped people find you. But Google doesn't work like that. This is where SEO — search engine optimization — becomes your new secret weapon. SEO just means writing your product descriptions and blog posts in a way that helps Google (and actual humans) understand what you're offering. If you sell handmade soaps and your product is listed as just 'Luna,' that doesn't help anyone. But 'Lavender Rose Handmade Soap – Luna Collection' gives people something to search for. That's SEO. You're not playing tricks — just being very clear, so make sure to use real words your customers would type into Google, not just cute names or internal jargon. SEO is how people find you when they're not already following you — and it's how your business grows beyond your followers. In your physical store or on social, you've built a vibe — you respond fast, you're friendly, you're helpful. That energy has to follow you to your website. But instead of replying to comments in real-time, your customer experience now lives in the details: shipping info that's easy to find, clear product photos, simple returns, helpful FAQs, and fast-loading pages. If something's confusing or clunky, people will bounce — not because they're mean, but because time is limited and options are endless. So put effort into making your site easy to shop, friendly to scroll, and consistent with your voice. It should reflect your brand values 24/7, even when you're asleep. When you start collecting payments, emails, and customer details on your own site, you become a kind of digital landlord — and that means you have to lock the doors. One of the things to be aware of is something called ransomware encryption. That's just a fancy way of saying: if your site or files aren't protected, someone could try to lock you out of your own data until you pay them. It sounds wild, but it's avoidable. The trick is being proactive — keep your website software updated, use strong passwords, install a good security plugin, and avoid clicking suspicious links (especially ones that look like they're from your web host but feel off). You don't need to become paranoid — you just need to get a little savvier and treat your website like the important business asset it now is. The most powerful thing about launching your website is this: you own it. Social platforms can change the rules, crash, or shadowban you without notice. But your website? That's yours. You control the experience, the content, the data — and you're not at the mercy of an algorithm. Every product page you write, every customer email you collect, every blog you post — they all build long-term value. Your site becomes a living asset that grows with you. And you don't need to do it alone. Hire help where it makes sense. Ask for advice. Learn as you go. You already built something people love — now you're just giving it a proper foundation. Movie Review: FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA RELATED: Final Destination: Bloodlines Spoiler Review
Irish Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Google faces UK push to loosen its grip on search
The UK's competition regulator is proposing to loosen Google' s control of its search engine in the first application of Britain's tough new digital market rules. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Tuesday that Google could be required to implement new 'fair ranking' measures in its search results and give publishers more control over how it uses their content, including in output generated by artificial intelligence. The CMA said it was minded to hand Google 'strategic market status' (SMS) – a label introduced under new digital market laws this year – in light of its dominant position in search and search advertising, which would require the tech giant to abide by a number of such conduct rules. A final decision will be made by October following a public consultation. READ MORE The Big Tech giant became the first company to be targeted under strict new UK digital laws that require businesses with an outsized impact in certain digital markets to be granted the SMS label and subjected to specific rules. The CMA's investigation, which was opened in January, examined whether Google's position in search and advertising was 'delivering good outcomes' for consumers and businesses in the UK. [ Google suffers blow at EU's top court over record €4.12bn competition fine Opens in new window ] 'Google is the world's leading search tool and plays an important role in all our lives, with the average person in the UK making five to 10 searches a day,' said Sarah Cardell, the CMA's chief executive. 'Our investigation so far suggests there are ways to make these markets more open, competitive and innovative.' Other conduct rules that the CMA is considering include requirements in how it ranks its search results and for Google's distribution partners such as Apple to offer 'choice screens' to help consumers switch more easily between search providers. Bobby Healy on why Manna drone delivery could be the 'biggest technology company in the world for its space' Listen | 67:08 The CMA said Alphabet-owned Google's dominance made the cost of search advertising 'higher than would be expected' in a more competitive market. Google on Tuesday slammed the proposals as 'broad and unfocused' and said they could threaten the UK's access to its latest products and services. [ Google's wobble reflects rising threat of AI to its business model Opens in new window ] Oliver Bethell, Google's senior director for competition, warned that 'punitive regulations' could change how quickly Google launches new products in the UK. 'Proportionate, evidence-based regulation will be essential to preventing the CMA's roadmap from becoming a roadblock to growth in the UK,' he added. Bethell's warning of the potential impact of any regulations on the wider UK economy comes after the government explicitly mandated the CMA to focus on supporting growth and investment while minimising uncertainty for businesses. Google said last year that it planned to invest $1bn in a huge new data centre just outside London. The CMA's probe comes after Google lost a pair of historic US antitrust cases over its dominance of search and its lucrative advertising business. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google faces UK push to loosen its grip on search
The UK's competition regulator is proposing to loosen Google's control of its search engine in the first application of Britain's tough new
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Google may have to make changes to UK search engine, says watchdog
Google may have to launch changes to its search engine in the UK and hand more power back to publishers, the competition regulator has warned. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said it is looking at whether it needs to loosen Google's control of its search engine and allow publishers more influence over how their content is used. The tech giant is the first company being targeted by the regulator under a new set of digital market laws. Google accounts for more than 90% of searches in the UK, while it is also used by more than 200,000 UK businesses to reach customers. Google said it would work 'constructively' with the CMA but highlighted that its plans presented 'challenges' to the business. The CMA, which launched its investigation into Google in January, said it is minded to give the tech firm 'strategic market status', which would require it to abide by a number of rules over its conduct. It could be forced to introduce new 'fair ranking' measures for its search results as well as giving further support to publishers on its platform, as a result. A final decision is set to be made by October following a consultation process. Oliver Bethell, senior director of competition at Google, said: 'The CMA has today reiterated that 'strategic market status' does not imply that anti-competitive behaviour has taken place — yet this announcement presents clear challenges to critical areas of our business in the UK. 'We're concerned that the scope of the CMA's considerations remains broad and unfocused, with a range of interventions being considered before any evidence has been provided. 'The UK has historically benefited from early access to our latest innovations, but punitive regulations could change that. 'Proportionate, evidence-based regulation will be essential to preventing the CMA's roadmap from becoming a roadblock to growth in the UK.' Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: 'Google search has delivered tremendous benefits – but our investigation so far suggests there are ways to make these markets more open, competitive and innovative. 'Today marks an important milestone in our implementation of the new Digital Markets Competition Regime in the UK. 'Alongside our proposed designation of Google's search activities, we have set out a roadmap of possible future action to improve outcomes for people and businesses in the UK. 'These targeted and proportionate actions would give UK businesses and consumers more choice and control over how they interact with Google's search services – as well as unlocking greater opportunities for innovation across the UK tech sector and broader economy.'
