The United States is urging South Korea to ease several non-tariff rules during ongoing bilateral trade discussions in Washington. South Korea trade restrictions on beef, biotechnology, and digital data transfers topped the list of US concerns. Officials discussed these issues during the second round of technical negotiations held last month. These talks come ahead of the Trump administration’s planned reciprocal tariffs set for early July. The trade discussions reflect mounting urgency on both sides to avoid economic fallout.
At the centre of the disagreement are South Korea trade restrictions on American beef products. US officials criticized Korea’s 16-year ban on beef from cattle over 30 months old. They called the measure outdated and harmful to American agricultural exporters. The rule remains in place despite Korea’s 2008 free trade agreement with the US. Washington now demands its removal before further cooperation can proceed.
Agricultural biotechnology emerged as another contested issue during the meetings. The US expressed frustration with Korea’s Living Modified Organism Act, calling it a barrier to market access. They argued the act makes export approval difficult for genetically modified crops. US trade representatives pushed for regulatory alignment to support fairer agricultural exchange. South Korea trade restrictions in this sector, they say, isolate the country from global biotech markets.
Digital data laws sparked further debate, particularly restrictions on exporting high-precision map data overseas. Google has repeatedly asked for access to transfer Korean map data abroad. South Korean authorities have refused, citing national security and digital sovereignty. The government plans to issue a final decision on the matter by August. Until then, US tech firms remain locked out of key Korean geographic data.
Negotiators face an early July deadline to strike a compromise before reciprocal tariffs take effect. South Korea wants exemptions or reductions on steel, automotive, and industrial goods. The US insists on removing trade barriers before granting concessions. Without agreement, both economies risk heightened friction. South Korea trade restrictions may soon define the tone of future bilateral economic relations.
