And to discuss further about America's growing trade protectionism and its impact on South
Korea,... we're joined by Professor Shin Sang-hyup,... a professor of Pan-Pacific International Studies
at Kyung Hee University.
Welcome to the program.
Q1 So the U.S. is planning to impose more heavy
tariffs, this time, on imports of Korean steel products.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has proposed the tariffs to the President, based on Section
232 of the Trade Expansion Act.
Could you tell us what
Section 232 stipulates?
Q2 This follows safeguard measures imposed on
Korean washing machines and solar panels.
How do you see the level of the U.S. government’s protectionist measures?
Is it too much?
Q3 The commerce department has excluded some
of America’s allies including Japan, Canada and Germany from such measures.
Why not exclude South Korea when Seoul has been a key ally to the U.S. for decades?
Q4 Based on the fact that Japan was excluded
from the list, some point out that the U.S. has a political motive behind slapping tariffs
on South Korean products, especially regarding President Moon Jae-in’s softer North Korea
policy.
Your take?
Q5 Some also argue that the Trump administration
is not just targeting South Korea, but also China.
They point out that the import regulations on Korean products began after South Korea
made military agreements with China that go against Washington’s interests.
Your thoughts?
Q6 President Moon has vowed strong actions against
Washington’s new measures.
Do you think
he could take
this to the World Trade Organization?
Q7 We hear that when President Moon met U.S.
Vice President Mike Pence in Pyeongchang, he asked Pence to remove the safeguard measures
on Korean washing machines.
Is this
true and would it have any effect?
Q8 U.S. President Trump is yet to sign the tariff
proposal on Korean steel products.
I believe he has
to sign it by April 11th.
Do
you think there’s a chance of negotiation between Seoul and Washington before that deadline?
Q9 The Trump administration’s protectionist
measures appear to be getting more aggressive by the day.
What kind of strategy does South Korea need at this point?
Q10 Administrations change over
time and policies come and go.
Could these tight import regulations be eased or
removed
when
a different U.S. administration takes office?