South Korea: US Calls For Resolution Of Non-Tariff Barrier Issues

The United States asked South Korea to resolve various non-trade barrier issues in their latest round of working-level trade talks, a Seoul trade official said on Monday, as the latter is seeking to get a reduction or exemption of the Donald Trump administration’s tariffs.

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In last week’s working-level consultations, Washington urged Seoul to handle non-trade barrier issues listed on the 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers issued by the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in March, the official familiar with the matter said on the condition of anonymity, without providing further details, reports Yonhap news agency.

The NTE report had touched on a wide range of Korea’s non-tariff measures, including its import ban on American beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, South Korea’s “offset” defence trade policy, emission-related regulations on imported cars and pricing policies for pharmaceuticals.