Yeo Han-koo, head of the trade negotiations bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited Washington and discussed follow-up steps after South Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations and pending digital legislative issues, he said on Jan. 15.

Yeo met government officials, including the head of the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to review the status of implementation of non-tariff agreements between the two countries. He also carried out broad outreach to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as major associations and think tanks, on digital legislation.

Yeo met USTR Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss the implementation of non-tariff agreements included in joint explanatory materials by the leaders of South Korea and the United States. With a ruling pending on whether reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are illegal, he said he conveyed to the U.S. side that South Korea, which reached a tariff agreement with the United States, should not receive unfavourable treatment compared with other countries.

They agreed to consult closely through regular communication channels regardless of the outcome of the IEEPA ruling. With Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Yeo discussed overall progress on follow-up steps after the tariff negotiations and agreed to strengthen investment cooperation between South Korea and the United States in key industries including shipbuilding.

He also met key federal lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives and held roundtable meetings with related associations and industry to address U.S. concerns over South Korea's digital legislation. The U.S. Congress and industry expressed appreciation for the South Korean government's communication efforts. They said they hoped that, in line with joint explanatory materials issued by the two leaders in November, U.S. companies would be ensured not to face discrimination or unnecessary barriers in laws and policies related to digital services. They also requested sufficient stakeholder consultation in South Korea's digital lawmaking process.

Yeo also explained to the U.S. Congress a recent personal data leak incident. He said relevant agencies are conducting a thorough investigation in accordance with related laws and regulations, and he clearly conveyed that it is inappropriate to interpret the matter as expanding into a diplomatic and trade issue between South Korea and the United States.

Yeo said his trip showed that expectations in the United States for bilateral trade and investment cooperation have generally risen since the tariff negotiation agreement, but that it is necessary to closely manage risk factors stemming from digital trade issues and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. He said it is important to accurately explain and communicate South Korea's policy intentions and background to the U.S. government, Congress and industry, and that he would continue outreach to the United States together with relevant ministries.