U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told South Korean officials that the Section 301 investigation "does not specifically target Korea" and that "depending on the results, Korea could end up in a more favorable position than other countries," Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Tuesday.
Kim made the remarks at a press briefing at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., noting that Greer attended his meeting with Vice President JD Vance the previous day.
The South Korean government aims to negotiate with the U.S. so that Korea faces no disadvantage compared to other countries in Section 301 investigations covering manufacturing overcapacity, forced labor, and upcoming digital regulations. Seoul also seeks to ensure any new burdens do not exceed those already agreed upon in bilateral tariff negotiations.
The USTR has launched Section 301 investigations into multiple countries including Korea, China, Japan, and the European Union to determine whether to impose tariffs. If Korea responds effectively, it could secure lower tariffs than other nations, potentially gaining a competitive edge in exports to the U.S.
First Major Investment Project to Be Announced
Following the recent passage of the U.S. Investment Special Act by the National Assembly, Korea's first major investment project in the United States is expected to be announced soon.
"A tentative proposal for Korea's first U.S. investment project was presented to Vice President Vance, and the U.S. expressed a degree of satisfaction," Kim said.
The project will be finalized through the newly established Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Corporation and an investment committee, pending final approval from the U.S.
"We are seriously considering two or three options besides nuclear power," Kim said. "Nuclear energy was cited as an example because it relates to Korean companies entering the U.S. nuclear market and connects to security agreements on uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing rights."
Korea to Join Critical Minerals Price Floor Initiative
Kim noted that Vice President Vance emphasized the importance of critical minerals during their January meeting.
"We have now clarified our position on the price floor issue, which had been unresolved," Kim said.
The U.S. is pushing to establish a binding critical minerals agreement with key countries through the USTR. Last month, Greer held a video conference with trade ministers from the G7, Korea, Australia, India, and Mexico.
Washington wants participating nations to implement a "critical minerals price floor" to push low-cost Chinese minerals out of the market. Korea had previously called for comprehensive review due to concerns about higher procurement costs for businesses and relations with China, but now appears to be moving toward participation.
Digital Regulations and Freedom of Expression
Regarding the Section 301 investigation into Korea's digital regulations, Greer asked whether Korea's Online Platform Act and amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act follow the EU model.
"I explained that while the EU regulates platforms, our approach punishes individuals who cause problems—an entirely different design," Kim said. "The U.S. seems to understand this."
However, Kim noted that Washington raised concerns about "potential suppression of freedom of expression compared to the U.S." and "regulatory elements affecting how American companies operate," requesting that such factors be minimized.
Kim said Greer specifically mentioned efforts to prevent Coupang from taking an aggressive stance to resolve its legal violations through approaches that deviate from the essence of the matter.
Trump Discusses North Korea Dialogue
Kim also held a 20-minute meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
"President Trump said he maintains a good relationship with Chairman Kim Jong-un and asked my opinion on whether Kim wants dialogue," the prime minister said.
"I asked President Trump about North Korea's current situation, whether they want dialogue with him, and how to advance relations. I offered several thoughts, and President Trump gave some instructions to his staff regarding this," Kim added.
Kim declined to detail his proposals, saying he must first report to President Lee Jae-myung.
On the timing of a potential U.S.-North Korea summit, Trump said: "Meeting with Chairman Kim would be good. It could be during my upcoming visit to China, or it might not be. It could be after that."
The meeting with Trump was arranged spontaneously by Paula White, director of the White House Office of Faith, during Kim's scheduled meeting with her.