Provisions on 'Food and Agricultural Products' in Fact Sheet... Kim Yongbeom: "This Is Not Market Opening"

"Establishing a 'U.S. Desk' Is Merely a Procedural Improvement"
"Provisions on Online Platforms Do Not Restrict Korea's Digital Sovereignty"

Kim Yongbeom, Chief of Policy at the Presidential Office, stated regarding the inclusion of food and agricultural product provisions in the joint fact sheet summarizing the results of the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations, "This is related to non-tariff barriers such as quarantine procedures and risk assessments, and does not constitute market opening."

Yonhap News Agency

Appearing before the National Assembly Steering Committee on this day in response to a question from Yoo Sangbum, a member of the People Power Party, Kim explained, "Market opening refers to two specific actions: lowering tariffs or adjusting quotas." He added that the fact sheet includes language stating, "Korea will cooperate with the United States to discuss non-tariff barriers affecting trade in food and agricultural products."

He dismissed the idea that establishing a "U.S. Desk" is related to market opening, clarifying that it is merely a procedural improvement. Kim stated, "Setting up a U.S. Desk and streamlining quarantine procedures for genetically modified organisms (LMOs) are simply about improving procedures," adding, "The reference to non-tariff barriers does not, in any way, mean the market will be opened."

Regarding the inclusion of network usage fees and online platform regulations in the fact sheet, Kim also clarified that the provision stating that U.S. companies will not be discriminated against does not restrict Korea's "digital sovereignty." He explained, "If you look at the provisions, there are no specific bills mentioned, and the language is such that it would be difficult for anyone to raise objections. These are expressions about basic principles."

Meanwhile, when asked whether it would be possible to further reduce investment in the United States, Kim replied, "We tried to reduce it by presenting various arguments, such as the fact that Japan's GDP is 2.5 times that of Korea." He explained that the United States has approached the issue based on the standard that Korea and Japan have nearly the same trade surplus with the United States.

Kim concluded, "In some respects, it may be insufficient, but based on the agreed language, we will put national interests first, ensure that our position is fully expressed during actual implementation, and do our utmost to prevent the investments we are concerned about from being made."