U.S. Tariffs Ruled Illegal...Government's Emergency Response: "We Will Continue Friendly Consultations" [3-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]
1. Kim Jeonggwan: "Mobilizing all diplomatic and trade channels to keep the balance of interests intact"
2. U.S. Supreme Court rules trade deal unlawful...Administration says "We have plenty of other cards"
3. U.S. activates Trade Act Section 301...Tension mounts across Korean industries

MARKET INDEX

○All three major U.S. New York stock indices closed lower across the board...hit by tariff uncertainty and AI-related threats

○Software sector down...IBM plunged 13%

○President Trump raised tariffs to 15% over the weekend

TOP 3 NEWS

■ Government responds urgently to U.S. tariff follow-up measures...Industry Minister: "Korea and the U.S. will continue friendly consultations"

○Trump administration shifts to Section 122 after IEEPA was nullified
○Government reviews export impact and discusses countermeasures
○"We will continue friendly consultations with the U.S. side"

■ White House cracks down on tariff-deal defections...Low likelihood of governments scrapping agreements

○Treasury Secretary Bessent: "We want to maintain existing agreements"
○Effective tariff rate under Trade Act Section 122 could decline
○Potential Trump retaliation cannot be ignored if deals are scrapped

■ U.S. abruptly deploys the "Section 301 card"...Aimed at China and Brazil, but Korea is also within range

○U.S. invokes "Trade Act Section 301"...launches probes into China and Brazil
○Follow-up measures on unlawful retaliatory tariffs get into full swing
○Uncertainty grows for semiconductors and automobiles

Graphic News: [Stablecoin Oversight] ②A 100% reserve ratio is not enough, the key is real-time verification...Need wallet separation to prevent a "second Bithumb"

○Pushing to mandate reserves equal to 100% of outstanding issuance plus an additional buffer in safe assets

○Need constraints on maturity structure...calls to strengthen liquidity management

○Must be accompanied by a "real-time verification" framework linking on-chain issuance with off-chain reserve assets

Money-Making Law

■ Hourly fee system introduced for arbitration

○KCAB introduces an "hourly rate" system to calculate arbitration fees
○Intended to accurately reflect case complexity and actual hours worked
○Expected to help invigorate international arbitration
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2026022315213603520

■ A wave of class actions sparked by Pizza Hut

○Supreme Court orders Korea Pizza Hut headquarters to "return 21.5 billion won in differential franchise fees"
○Number of brands that have filed or are pursuing lawsuits likely to exceed 14
○Back-to-back trials from March...major law firms to join in large numbers
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2026022315214606998

■ "For trade secrets, use, acquisition, and disclosure are each separate offenses"

○Samsung Electronics technology-leak case remanded by the Supreme Court
○Supreme Court: "Offenses for using trade secrets, acquiring them, and disclosing them must be determined separately"
○"Only the attempted offense of violating Article 18 of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act is established"
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2026022315215611063

* "Money-Making Law," a content partnership section between The Asia Business Daily and The Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Key Schedule for Today

○Domestic

06:00 Consumer Confidence Index (February)

06:00 Producer Price Index (MoM) (January)

Esteem KOSDAQ subscription, offering price 8,500 won

Xbis KOSDAQ subscription, offering price 11,500 won

○Overseas

02:30 Speech by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde

10:00 People's Bank of China (PBoC) Loan Prime Rate (February)

23:00 U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index (not seasonally adjusted) (MoM) (December)

23:00 Speech by Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller

◇Lunchtime & Commute Weather

○Morning low: -1°C (▲1°C) ｜Afternoon high: 6°C (▲1°C)
○Precipitation probability: morning 60%｜afternoon 60%
○Fine dust: morning good｜afternoon good

Three minutes is all you need for essential, time- and cost-efficient economic news. Published daily at 8 a.m.