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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤

@haeyoonkim.bsky.social
361 followers 147 following 515 posts

Korea Tech & Trade Watch: koreattw.substack.com

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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
"This 50 Billion Dollar Infrastructure Investment from The Republic of Korea is part of their Trade and Investment Deal with me."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Huh?
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
"The administration has given inconsistent descriptions of many of the deals... Just last week, Trump announced South Korea had agreed to a list of projects to direct $200 billion of investment to the U.S., including a liquefied natural gas project in Alaska. Seoul immediately disputed the details."
politico.com
Democrats say Trump’s trade deals were corrupt. They’re gearing up to investigate.
Democrats on the House Ways and Means, Senate Finance and other committees are already lining up targets if their party wins back Congress.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Japan and South Korea have pledged billions in U.S. investment under tariff pressure. But how much will materialize, and at what cost? In our new @cato.org paper, @simonlester.com and I examine how Trump's “friendfunding” approach could lead to poor investment outcomes and strain U.S. alliances.
cato.org
"Friendfunding" Industrial Policy
The Trump administration’s “friendfunding” approach uses tariff threats to steer allied money to US-controlled projects, promising an uncertain investment payoff while concentrating power in the execu...
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Reposted by Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤
Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Surprise! The EU and China have clinched a trade deal to: - Cut China's exports of hybrids and plug-in hybrids by more than half - Improve access to the Chinese market for €4 billion of EU-made products - Facilitate China's export licensing for rare earths and permanent magnets
euronews.com
EU and China clinch deal over EVs after weeks of heated trade talks
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič described the deal as marking the end of the “first phase” of negotiations. Brussels is pushing for a fundamental rebalancing in trade relations with Beijing. #Eur...
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Reposted by Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤
Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada and Lithuania to pull out of an international conference on disinformation after organizers announced panels warning of the threat posed by American government officials
politico.com
EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure
The Trump administration was bothered by panels that referred to the U.S. as a disinformation threat.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Here comes another discrimination charge: "'Our message to Microsoft is: You’re a great American company, but you’ve got to hire great American workers,'... 'For every worker that Microsoft laid off, they replaced that worker with one-and-a-half foreign indentured servants,' Vance said."
politico.com
Trump admin bars 8 tech companies from sponsoring H-1B workers for green cards
The vice president announced the move in a Thursday press conference where he said Microsoft is discriminating against Americans by prioritizing foreign workers.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
"The latest instruction goes further than Lee’s directive at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, when he told officials not to rush toward a predetermined conclusion and to restart discussions on #CPTPP membership 'from square one.'"
koreaherald.com
Lee puts CPTPP application on hold
President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the government not to apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership this year, say
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
KBS, S Korea’s public broadcaster, has released a documentary episode on U.S. e-commerce company Coupang, often called the “Amazon of Korea.” If you’re following the U.S.-Korea dispute surrounding Coupang, I recommend it. The episode is in Korean, with English subtitles available in the settings.
youtube.com
미국회사 쿠팡, 그리고 로비 [풀영상] | 창 566회 (KBS 26.10.6.)
YouTube video by KBS시사
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
VP Vance on Alaska LNG: "I think it's ​something that's going to happen. Obviously, you ‌still ⁠got to work out some of the details, and the South Koreans have spoken to that... But when... ​there ⁠really is strong demand for American natural gas, I think we're going ⁠to ​be able to get ​it done."
reuters.com
Vance says details of proposed Alaska LNG pipeline need to be worked out
US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that a ​long-planned liquefied natural gas pipeline in ‌Alaska was going to happen, but there were still some details that ​needed to be worked out ​with Sout...
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
"Trump also said on Friday that the US trade deal with South Korea includes $8.4 billion for a ​project to push out crude from an aging oilfield, although state-supported Yonhap news agency reported ​that an official from Seoul's industry ministry was surprised by the claim."
reuters.com
Trump says he did not 'jump the gun' on South Korea Alaska LNG investment announcement
US President Donald Trump said on Friday he did not "jump the gun" on announcing a South Korean investment in Alaska LNG, a liquefied natural gas project that has been planned for decades but still la...
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
U.S. House Select Committee on China Chair John Moolenaar warned that South Korea’s growing alignment with China could strain U.S.-Korea ties, citing Korea's chip investment in China, alleged discrimination against U.S. firms, criticism of U.S. forces, and remarks on Taiwan.
chinaselectcommittee.house.gov
Moolenaar: South Korea Putting Indispensable Alliance with U.S. At Risk
Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio raising concerns about South Korea's growing alignment with China, which could undermine it...
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Reposted by Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤
Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 01/10/2026
“It is most significant on a vibes level,” said Mackenzie Arnold, managing director of US Law & Policy at LawAI. “It is not granting authority to an agency . . . to actually put in place standards with teeth.”
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Update from Seoul: "[President] Lee... said that participation in the Alaska LNG project was dependent on its financial viability and legal compliance. He added that investments in nuclear power plants would also require assessment of commercial viability on a plant-by-plant basis."
cnbc.com
South Korean President Lee pushes back on Alaska LNG project after Trump touts Seoul's participation
The U.S. announced plans for up to $200 billion in South Korean investment, though Seoul has yet to finalize the participation in the Alaska LNG project.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The Fact Sheet is out, and the Alaska LNG project looks less concrete than the White House remarks suggested earlier today. Commerce Secretary Lutnick spoke of “just over $50 billion invested in Alaska for the Alaska LNG project," but that figure does not appear in the document.
commerce.gov
Fact Sheet: Korea and the United States Announce Historic Strategic Investment Projects
The announcement of the strategic investment project (“Project Star”), the Korea - U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Projects (“Project Power”), and a plan to work together on the Alaska LNG project (“Project ...
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Why didn't anyone in the room press President Trump or Secretary Lutnick on the fact that, regarding the Alaska LNG project, the South Korean government has only said it is considering the project and has not confirmed that it approved funding?
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Update from @politico.com: "But the S Korean govt has only said that it is considering the Alaska project and has not confirmed that it approved funding — which would go well beyond the $20 billion cap that Korea’s National Assembly put in place in March for annual outbound investment to the U.S."
politico.com
Trump set to unveil $54B South Korean investment in Alaska LNG
The Korean government has yet to confirm funding for the project.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"President Trump could announce as soon as Wednesday his administration intends to tap South Korea's pledged strategic investment package for about $54 billion to build a LNG facility in Alaska... Alaska has become a central stage for Republicans battling to maintain control of the US Senate..."
reuters.com
Trump set to tout Korean investment in Alaska LNG, other projects, sources say
President Donald Trump could announce as soon as Wednesday his administration intends to tap South Korea's pledged strategic investment package for about $54 billion to build a liquefied natural gas f...
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
On relying on Korean memory makers, he said, "If I have to depend on someone to manufacture a core component essential to Nvidia's growth, there is no company I would trust more surely than SK or Samsung."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Regarding reports that the Chinese government is reviewing approval for imports of @nvidiabot.bsky.social's new AI chips for data centers, he said, "China needs to realize that compute is revenue," adding "Without computing capacity, the growth of China's digital economy will be held back."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
On the question of AI safety regulation, he said, "Companies understand the technology better than governments do, so it is preferable for the industry to put forward global standards first."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Huang, speaking at a discussion following the Korea Society’s annual gala in New York last night, said, “AI is not a living creature. It is just software that performs the task it is given.” He added that AI “has less self-awareness than a pet rock, so it does not spiral out of control on its own.”
en.sedaily.com
Nvidia CEO Says AI Has Less Self-Awareness Than a Pet Rock
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said AI has less self-awareness than a pet rock, dismissing doom warnings, as he received the Van Fleet Award in New York.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Lee’s response to Zelenskyy’s announcement: “I do not know the circumstances behind Ukraine’s decision to break the non-disclosure agreement and make this public, but it is deeply regrettable.”
chosun.com
President Lee Regrets Ukraine's Repatriation Disclosure; Ukraine Defends Transparency
President Lee Regrets Ukraines Repatriation Disclosure; Ukraine Defends Transparency Ukrainian Office Calls Secret Transfer Strange as South Korean Opposition Questions Seouls Silence
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Game changer
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"Xi also announced that China will invite 100,000 American youth to come to his country for studies and exchanges in the next five years and that China will send two pandas to the zoo in Atlanta." Not sure if that's the best trade. 🙄
apnews.com
Trump hails deep friendship with Xi as China's leader urges 'healthy' competition between 2 powers
President Donald Trump is hailing the “truly great friendship” he's forged with Xi Jinping as the Chinese leader began his highly anticipated state visit at the White House.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly: "Recently we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea [South Korea]."
youtube.com
Виступ Володимира Зеленського на Генеральній асамблеї ООН
YouTube video by Офіс Президента України
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Happy to be quoted in @financialtimes.com on what is expected to become S Korea’s first US-bound project under its $350 billion investment deal with the Trump administration, a multibillion-dollar gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, and the limits of Seoul’s “commercially reasonable” safeguard.
ft.com
South Korea bets on Texas gas plant to satisfy Donald Trump
Seoul to fund $22bn power plant as pressure mounts to deliver on $350bn investment deal
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
So here come the AI Force and a high IQ AI Czar.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
"He emphasized that even if those assets move closer to the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz, their sole focus would be protecting S Korean ​oil tankers and other commercial vessels. They will not participate in any operations that could be interpreted as supporting the war against Iran​, he said."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
"Instead of a combat deployment, Mr. Lee noted that Seoul is considering expanding the operational scope of a South Korean navy destroyer and its support ships currently stationed off the coast of Somalia for antipiracy operations."
nytimes.com
Rejecting Trump, South Korean Leader Says He Will Not Send Troops to Iran
President Lee Jae Myung’s comments followed President Trump’s repeated demand for “a little hand” from South Korea, a decades-old American ally.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
"Asked about a potential SK Hynix plan to produce chips in the U.S., South Korea's trade ministry said any decision would be at the company's discretion but if it involved a 'national core technology,' it would ‌be subject to ⁠a review under the Industrial Technology Protection Act."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
"Under one potential scenario, SK Hynix would lease part of Intel's ‌long-planned chipmaking facility in Ohio, they said. Under another scenario, it could form a venture with Intel and major cloud firms that are keen to lock in memory chip supplies, two of the people said."
reuters.com
EXCLUSIVE: SK Hynix in talks with Intel about deal to make memory chips in US for the first time, sources say
SK Hynix is in talks with Intel about a deal that would see ​the South Korean company manufacture memory chips on U.S. soil for the first time, three people familiar with the discussions said.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
S Korea's first U.S.-bound investment announcement reportedly delayed over three issues: 1. Washington’s push for greater investment in a Texas gas-fired power plant; 2. Seoul’s bid for a larger Westinghouse stake and board seat; 3. Seoul’s concerns over the Alaska LNG project’s commercial viability
koreajoongangdaily.com
Inside the Korea-U.S. $200 billion investment package tug-of-war
Seoul delayed its U.S. investment package as disputes persist over a Texas power plant, a Westinghouse stake and Alaska liquefied natural gas.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
“Administrative claims on behalf of the workers... have started to be filed with nine federal agencies... The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the FBI and the Departments of Justice and Labor were among the agencies, it added.”
reuters.com
South Korean workers challenging Trump administration over Georgia raid, CNN reports
More than 300 South Korean workers who were detained in last year’s immigration raid at a Hyundai ​electric-vehicle manufacturing plant in Georgia are challenging the ‌U.S. government, CNN reported on...
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
They'd still be prosecuted under a separate set of technology- and trade-secret laws, where sentences have in practice been much lighter.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Also note that it primarily covers "state secrets." The catch is that chip recipes and battery formulas may not always qualify — they're often treated as company trade secrets, which can put them outside this expanded espionage law.
bloomberg.com
South Korea Ramps Up Spy Law to Protect Chip Secrets From China
South Korea is tightening its defenses against industrial espionage with a revised law on spying taking effect this weekend, as the home of global chip giants Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc....
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Reposted by Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤
Simon Lester @simonlester.com · 08/09/2026
A subtle way for Canada to retaliate without hurting itself economically would be to file a USMCA Chapter 31 complaint against the Section 338 tariffs, thereby forcing the already overworked USTR staff to spend time litigating.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
S Korea wants memory fabs at Gwangju Air Base, where parts of the base are provided to U.S. forces under SOFA. At the same time, Washington is pressing Samsung and SK Hynix to build memory in America, warning of "targeted" chip tariffs. Competing industrial policies risk becoming an alliance issue.
koreattw.substack.com
When Memory Fabs Become an Alliance Issue: South Korea’s Gwangju Chip Dilemma
Since South Korea unveiled its plan to clear Gwangju Air Base and turn it into a major semiconductor complex, the project has become more than a question of domestic industrial policy.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
“'That’s what you should look for in semiconductors: If you build in America, we will give you tariff relief, and if you don’t build in America, you will pay tariffs,' Lutnick said. 'That’s pretty much a very sensible way of doing things, and it’s working.'”
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Roughly 7,800 alleged victims have so far expressed interest in joining the case. They are among the 33.7 million users affected by last November’s data leak, which exposed names, contact information, delivery addresses, and building entry codes.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The plaintiffs, led by two Coupang customers in the Eastern District of New York, countered that Coupang Inc. is a U.S. company listed on the NYSE, that its leadership influences Korean subsidiary Coupang Corp., and that it reported the breach to the SEC — all supporting U.S. jurisdiction.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Coupang’s lawyers argued that U.S. parent Coupang Inc. is legally separate from its Korean subsidiary, where the breach occurred. They described the Korean unit as an e-commerce platform “doing business in Korea for Koreans” and said "litigating the case in New York would waste time and resources."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
American Company Before U.S. Congress, Korean Platform in U.S. Court? At yesterday’s first hearing in a U.S. class action over Coupang’s data leak in South Korea, the company urged the Eastern District of New York to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.
hani.co.kr
로비할 땐 ‘미국 기업’ 쿠팡, 집단소송 법정선 ‘한국 플랫폼’ 이중잣대
쿠팡의 대규모 개인정보 유출 사태와 관련한 미국 집단소송의 첫 심리에서 중요 쟁점인 재판 관할권을 놓고 치열한 공방이 이뤄졌다. 쿠팡은 미국 정·관계를 대상으로 한 로비 활동을 할 때는 ‘미국 기반 기업’이라는 점을 부각해 왔지만, 이날 법정에선 한국 고객을 대상으로
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
On potential retaliatory tariffs on South Korea over Coupang, House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) said, “President Trump has been very vocal about fairness for American companies and not getting ripped off. So yeah, I think [Trump’s response] could be significant.”
cnbc.com
Coupang dispute fuels new U.S. tariff pressure on South Korea
South Korea's dismissal of Congress' allegations that it discriminated against U.S.-based Coupang is straining the country's ties with the U.S., sources said.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
He also wrote: "The United States has stood by South Korea through war and reconstruction; I will not stand by while Seoul ungratefully weaponizes its government against the very innovators who help power both our economies."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
In the letter he wrote: "Seoul has weaponized a small [data breach] incident into a pretext for widespread weaponization against American enterprise. This practice, well documented outside the Coupang case study, is deeply unfair to American businesses, workers, investors, and exporters."
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urging a formal investigation, including potential Section 301 tariffs, into South Korea’s aggressive regulatory campaign against American companies such as Coupang.
moreno.senate.gov
Moreno Calls for Investigation Over South Korea’s Exploitation of American Businesses - Senator Moreno
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) sent a letter to United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling for a formal investigation, including potential Section 301 tariffs, into ...
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Korea Tech & Trade Watch just passed 300 subscribers and 12.9K total views! A modest milestone, but one I’m proud of in such a niche space covering economic security, supply chains, and tech and trade policy, with a focus on South Korea. Thanks for reading! Subscribe here: koreattw.substack.com
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Carney’s “middle powers should unite against Trump” sounds compelling, but who exactly are the middle powers? The G7 minus the U.S.? The G20 minus the U.S. and China — Russia included? And if we mean pro-trade democracies, does Brazil make the cut?
politico.eu
The trade war came too soon for Mark Carney’s middle powers alliance
The Canadian prime minister called for pro-trade democracies to resist great-power coercion together. Seven months later, he is largely fighting Trump alone.
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Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤 @haeyoonkim.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
The U.S. has reportedly proposed that South Korea acquire an equity stake in Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Washington is working with Westinghouse to begin construction of 10 U.S. nuclear reactors by 2030 to support AI infrastructure and is seeking Korean capital and construction expertise.
hankyung.com
[단독] 美 '웨스팅하우스 지분 인수' 韓에 제안
[단독] 美 '웨스팅하우스 지분 인수' 韓에 제안, 한전, 공동 지분투자 검토…'팀코러스' 부상 美, 원전 10기 건설에 韓 자본·시공력 끌어들일 포석 지재권 족쇄 풀 기회…대미투자펀드 활용 등 거론
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