The omission of digital trade from the announcement of the provisional U.S.-South Korea trade deal in July underscores a growing fault line in bilateral relations. While the deal focused on tariffs and investment, it left unresolved Washington’s mounting concerns over Seoul’s proposed digital regulations targeting U.S. tech companies. These policy differences reflect a broader global…
October 28, 2025
South Korea is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit for the second time. The event will be held from October 31 to November 1 and presents a valuable opportunity for Korea—with a new president in office—to demonstrate renewed diplomatic leadership and reaffirm its commitment to international cooperation. Unfortunately, the timing of the…
July 15, 2025
The United States is poised to escalate its trade brinkmanship once again. On April 2, the Donald Trump administration is expected to unveil a sweeping new tariff regime under the banner of “reciprocal tariffs,” aimed at countries with significant trade surpluses with the United States—including close allies like South Korea. White House officials purport they…
March 31, 2025
Once dismissed as an abstract nuisance, transnational subsidies—where governments subsidize firms operating beyond their borders—have now become a central concern for countries. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures regulates subsidies that could potentially distort fair competition, generally applying a territorial criterion that mandates the subsidy recipient be located within the…