USTR Talks Semiconductors With Korean Trade Minister

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai met with Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo Sept. 13, and in a summary of that meeting, she said she emphasized the importance of advancing workers' rights through the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, as well as using KORUS to resolve bilateral issues.

According to a report in the Korea Herald, the Korean government said that Yeo suggested that Tai "establish a new channel in which the two countries can closely cooperate in maintaining a stable supply chain." Tai said, "They emphasized the importance of working closely together to strengthen supply chain resiliency, including in the area of semiconductors."

Chinese hardliner paper the Global Times published an editorial reacting to the USTR readout that said, in part: "Under the Biden administration's agenda to form small cliques to block China's development in the semiconductor industry in order to maintain its tech hegemony, it is not unexpected for the topic to be raised up again. From pressing top global semiconductor producers to ramp up investment in the US, to recently hindering a Chinese firm's acquisition of a Korean chip company, the Biden administration has spared no effort to manipulate the chip industrial chain, despite having little to show for their persistence."

Tai also said they exchanged views on how to reform the World Trade Organization, and discussed the importance of reaching an agreement on fisheries subsidies.