Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association, along with five other trade associations, has written a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging the Administration to ensure that the August 25 visit by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers meaningful progress in addressing longstanding digital trade impediments. CCIA’s most recent catalogue of significant digital trade barriers in Korea is available here.
The following can be attributed to Jonathan McHale, CCIA Vice President for Digital Trade:
“As one of our top trading partners and a global leader in adopting digital technology and services, Korea is a critical market for U.S. digital suppliers. Although it boasts numerous successful innovators of its own and a highly competitive domestic market, longstanding policy has been to protect its market to the detriment of U.S. products and services. In the face of a persistent and growing trade surplus with the United States, it is incumbent on Korea, and in keeping with its commitment under the Korea-U.S. Trade Agreement, to open its market to competitive U.S. firms.”
“Progress to date has been disappointingly slow, and next week presents an unprecedented opportunity to address longstanding trade barriers. We urge the U.S. and Korean governments to seize this moment and set Korea on a clear path towards fair and open markets.“
