Trade Negotiations Chief Meets US Companies: "US Help Desk to Address Difficulties"

Yeo Hyeon Gu Visits AMCHAM Korea
Shares Results of Korea-US Tariff Negotiations and Listens to Concerns

The government has decided to operate the "US Help Desk," a dedicated channel to address the difficulties faced by American companies, including non-tariff barriers in Korea.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that Hyeon Gu Yeo, Director General for Trade Negotiations, visited the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) on the afternoon of August 8 and met with American foreign-invested companies to share the results of the Korea-US tariff negotiations and listen to their concerns.

Hyeon Gu Yeo, Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (left), is taking a commemorative photo with James Kim, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), in the conference room of AMCHAM located at IPC in Yeouido, Seoul on the 8th.

This meeting was organized to share the results of the Korea-US tariff negotiations, which were concluded on July 30, with AMCHAM and foreign-invested companies, and to promote a more constructive cooperative relationship between Korea and the United States.

James Kim, President of AMCHAM, expressed his welcome and support for the recently concluded Korea-US tariff negotiations, emphasizing, "As discussions on sensitive trade issues are expected to continue even after this agreement, close and ongoing dialogue between the two countries is important."

In response, Director General Yeo stated, "The conclusion of the Korea-US tariff negotiations has resolved short-term export uncertainties for our companies and secured competitive conditions that are not disadvantageous compared to major countries. We will further strengthen the manufacturing renaissance partnership between Korea and the United States in strategic industries such as shipbuilding, automobiles, semiconductors, bio, batteries, and nuclear power."

In particular, Director General Yeo addressed the non-tariff barriers continuously raised by American companies, saying, "We will actively listen to and resolve the complaints and difficulties of American companies by operating the US Help Desk. We will also provide active support so that foreign-invested companies in Korea can invest in a better environment."

Finally, Director General Yeo expressed his gratitude, saying, "I thank AMCHAM for contributing to the creation of quality jobs and the revitalization of the domestic economy based on its trust in the Korean market. As the conclusion of the tariff negotiations has resolved much of the external trade environment uncertainty, I ask American foreign-invested companies to expand their active investment in Korea's artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and other sectors."