Washington D.C. – The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has recently concluded a public comment period, spanning from February 20 to March 11, seeking input from American individuals, industries, and associations regarding "damages caused by unfair trade practices." This initiative, aimed at gathering grievances and potential retaliatory measures against trading partners, has brought South Korea under scrutiny from various U.S. agricultural sectors.

The USTR's call for comments, intended to inform the upcoming April 2 report on national trade barriers and potential reciprocal tariffs, yielded a staggering 756 submissions. While some were broad and unsubstantiated, a significant number came from influential entities, including large law firms submitting confidential opinions. Notably, the USTR's own head, Jamieson Greer, previously served as a lead attorney at King & Spalding, raising eyebrows about potential conflicts of interest.

U.S. Agricultural Sector Targets Korean Market

Among the submissions, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) reignited the long-standing dispute over Korea's ban on beef imports from cattle older than 30 months, citing safety and quality assurances from other nations that have lifted similar restrictions. This issue was also raised during a meeting between Korea's Trade Minister Chung In-kyo and USTR head Jamieson Greer, highlighting the U.S. government's continued focus on Korea's agricultural market access.

Beyond beef, other U.S. agricultural groups, including the Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC), Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), American Soybean Association (ASA), U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and USA Rice, have also labeled Korea as an unfair trading partner. Their grievances span a range of products, including apples, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), soybeans, and rice.

Key Points of Contention:

Beef: The NCBA's demand to lift the 30-month age restriction, despite consumer concerns in Korea about BSE (mad cow disease).
Apples: The NHC's claim of discriminatory practices, alleging Korea blocks U.S. apple imports while exporting pears to the U.S.
GMOs: BIO and soybean associations criticize Korea's complex and unpredictable GMO approval process, seeking regulatory reforms.
Rice: The USA Rice association raised concerns about South Korea's "maximum residue level (MRL)" regulations regarding pesticides.
Potential Implications and Expert Analysis:

Despite the range of complaints, experts suggest the U.S. government's primary focus may lie beyond agriculture. Song Ki-ho, a trade specialist, argues that the U.S. already benefits significantly from the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) in agriculture, minimizing the leverage for further demands.

Seo Jin-kyo, head of the GS&J Institute, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that the U.S. may use these agricultural disputes as leverage to extract concessions in other sectors, particularly regarding GMO approvals.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the Trump administration's tariff policies. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) warned against retaliatory tariffs from countries like Canada, Mexico, and China, which could divert excess U.S. agricultural products to markets like Korea.

As the USTR prepares its report, the Korean government faces the challenge of navigating these trade disputes while safeguarding its domestic agricultural sector and consumer interests.