Simplification of Certification and Compliance Procedures
"Mutual Tariff Suspension Should Be Used as Leverage"
Call for Revision of Korea's Trade Regime
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), a U.S. non-profit organization, has urged the South Korean government to improve digital sector regulations, which it considers non-tariff barriers, during the current phase of mutual tariff suspension.
On April 28, the CCIA issued a statement saying, "The South Korean government should use the current 90-day mutual tariff suspension as diplomatic leverage to align its data governance and digital competition regulations with U.S. standards." The CCIA also called for the simplification of certification and compliance procedures and urged the government to halt the advancement of discriminatory legislation, such as the Platform Competition Promotion Act (PCPA). The CCIA is an international non-profit trade association representing a variety of communications and technology companies.
The organization further stated, "South Korea should revise its trade regime by easing and deferring excessive regulatory requirements related to artificial intelligence (AI) through subordinate regulations, and by reducing unfair burdens on U.S. platform companies, such as non-tariff barriers imposed by the Korea Fair Trade Commission." The CCIA added, "Through these measures, we urge a reset in U.S.-Korea trade relations and call for the avoidance of tensions arising from the controversial digital policies of the European Union (EU)."
CCIA
The CCIA explained, "Such improvements will strengthen South Korea's position as a trusted partner, enhance its global competitiveness, and contribute to driving innovation-led growth in the Pacific region."
The CCIA also emphasized that its position aligns with the press release issued by the U.S. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) on April 15. Previously, the ITIF had pointed out in its report, "Low Tariffs Are Not Enough: South Korea Must Remove Trade Barriers with the United States," that although tariff rates have declined since the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), U.S. technology companies still face regulatory barriers in the digital services, semiconductor, and cloud infrastructure sectors.
On April 24, during the ongoing "2+2" finance and trade ministerial consultations between the South Korean and U.S. governments, the U.S. side also raised concerns about South Korea's non-tariff barriers in the digital sector at the negotiation table.
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