Gov't vows continued consultation with U.S. over USTR report on trade barriers | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
The ministry said the USTR expanded its overall scope of assessment on foreign trade barriers in this year's report, newly incorporating sections on non-market policies and practices, as well as labor and environmental issues. Last month, the USTR launched consecutive trade inquiries into South Korea and other major economies to uncover what it calls "unfair" trade practices related to structural excess capacity and production, and the importation of goods produced with forced labor. Customs and Border Protection issued a "withhold release order" in 2025 against sea salt products produced by a South Korean salt farm "based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor." Seoul delivered a written opinion on the latest USTR report in February and continued to hold consultations with the U.S. until its release, officials said. Korea Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang Tass news agency's delegation in Pyongyang prev Gov't vows continued consultation with U.S. over USTR report on trade barriers Next Gov't vows continued consultation with U.S. over USTR report on trade barriers

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SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- The government on Wednesday pledged continued efforts to stably manage trade relations with the United States by communicating on issues raised by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in its latest annual report on foreign trade barriers.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said it will soon hold a meeting of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) joint committee to discuss the implementation of the countries' agreement on non-tariff trade barrier issues made as part of their tariff deal finalized late last year.
The announcement came after the USTR released its 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report, in which it listed what the U.S. calls "trade barriers" of its trading partners, including South Korea.
The ministry said the USTR expanded its overall scope of assessment on foreign trade barriers in this year's report, newly incorporating sections on non-market policies and practices, as well as labor and environmental issues.
Last month, the USTR launched consecutive trade inquiries into South Korea and other major economies to uncover what it calls "unfair" trade practices related to structural excess capacity and production, and the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
The USTR's move appeared to be aimed at restoring trade-related measures Washington had imposed on partners before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down U.S. President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, Seoul officials said earlier.
The 2026 NTE report pointed out a series of issues related to Seoul's digital regulation efforts, sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, and others, which had mostly been raised in previous reports, according to officials here.
Notably, the report said South Korea does not have a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced or compulsory labor, noting that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a "withhold release order" in 2025 against sea salt products produced by a South Korean salt farm "based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor."
Seoul delivered a written opinion on the latest USTR report in February and continued to hold consultations with the U.S. until its release, officials said.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources headquarters in the central city of Sejong (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Korea, 59 other economies over failure to ban forced labor-linked imports (2nd LD) Trade chief vows to protect S.
- Korea's interests through consultations with U.S. over USTR probe Keywords #trade barrier Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

### Implications
- The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said it will soon hold a meeting of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) joint committee to discuss the implementation of the countries' agreement on non-tariff trade barrier issues made as part of their tariff deal finalized late last year.
- The 2026 NTE report pointed out a series of issues related to Seoul's digital regulation efforts, sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, and others, which had mostly been raised in previous reports, according to officials here.
- Korea's AI procurement, digital regulation, forced labor issues Trade ministry launches task force to respond to USTR probes Gov't to ensure S.
- Korea's interests through consultations with U.S. over USTR probe Keywords #trade barrier Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers trade, ustr, korea topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 715.