AmCham to Knock on Washington Doors to Serve as a Bridge Between Korean and U.S. Governments

'Washington DoorNok' Program Resumes
US Visit Scheduled from July 27 to 29

James Kim, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), is holding a press conference. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AmCham) delegation announced on the 25th that it will visit Washington D.C. this week to meet with key figures from the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress. This visit aims to resume the annual 'Washington Doorknock' program, which had been suspended for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AmCham delegation plans to visit the U.S. from the 27th to the 29th to convey to the U.S. Congress the value and importance of Korea-U.S. trade relations and the business activities of AmCham member companies in Korea.

During the three-day schedule, the delegation will attend more than 25 high-level meetings, including meetings with key officials from various U.S. government departments such as the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the State Department, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and the White House. The Doorknock schedule also includes meetings with six U.S. senators and three congressional representatives who lead major Senate and congressional committee activities related to finance, international trade, commerce, and East Asia. Additionally, the delegation will meet with experts and stakeholders from various fields such as think tanks and academia to share on-the-ground perspectives and viewpoints.

The AmCham delegation is visiting the U.S. amid a positive atmosphere in Korea-U.S. cooperation, highlighted by recently announced record-breaking investment plans and the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Through this meeting, they plan to emphasize the significance of the Korea-U.S. trade relationship, which is stronger than ever. They will also share policy initiatives aimed at creating a multinational corporation-friendly environment announced by the newly inaugurated Yoon Suk-yeol administration and express the need for economic incentives to revitalize trade between the two countries.

James Kim, AmCham Chairman and CEO, stated, "With the inauguration of Korea's new government, the recent Korea-U.S. summit, and the 10th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), 2022 is a very meaningful and important year for bilateral relations and the perfect time for the 'Doorknock'." He added, "As Korea and the U.S. work together wisely to address common global threats and promote shared core values in the region, the strong alliance between the two countries has become more important than ever."

He continued, "As the Korea-U.S. economic alliance develops into a comprehensive strategic alliance, I believe AmCham, which serves as a bridge between the two governments, must play a greater role. AmCham will continue to work closely with both governments to further strengthen Korea-U.S. economic cooperation."

This year's 'Doorknock' will begin on the 27th with the 'Memorial Wall Dedication Ceremony for the Korean War Veterans.' President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken are also expected to attend this commemorative event.

Meanwhile, the delegation consists of James Kim, AmCham Chairman and CEO; Henry Ahn, AmCham Board Chairman and Vice President of Samil Accounting Corporation; Jeffrey Jones, Chairman of the Future Partners Foundation and attorney at Kim & Chang Law Firm; Robert Lang, President of Lockheed Martin Korea; Oh Dong-wook, CEO of Pfizer Korea; Oh Hye-min, Senior Director of External Affairs at Pfizer Korea; Kevin Peters, CEO of MSD Korea; and Kim Kyung-hoon, President of Google Korea.