US Lawmakers Express Concerns Over South Korea's Trade Practices Favoring China

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:37:00 +0200

Over 50 House members, led by Representative Darrell Issa, have expressed deep concern over South Korea's trade policies, alleging discriminatory practices targeting American companies while seemingly favoring businesses aligned with China. The lawmakers sent a letter to the South Korean Ambassador to the United States, Kyung-wha Kang, detailing instances where U.S. tech companies, including Meta and Coupang, have faced regulatory hurdles. A recent report by the think tank Competere estimates these actions could result in a combined $1 trillion loss in economic damage to both the U.S. and South Korean economies over the next decade.

Lawmakers highlighted concerns about South Korea’s adoption of European digital rules, suggesting they favor localization over allowing established global companies to compete fairly. They specifically pointed to Coupang, a Korean-American founded company, as being unfairly targeted. Issa emphasized the importance of the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreem