South Korea’s non‑tariff actions threaten US firms, $500 billion loss

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee released a report saying South Korean regulators have used a coordinated, government‑wide campaign to target American companies that have invested billions and employ thousands in the country. The effort includes more than 10 agencies, over 4,200 document requests and hundreds of executive interviews, and followed a record $410 million privacy fine imposed by South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission.

Committee estimates suggest the discriminatory regulatory treatment could cost the United States more than $500 billion in economic losses, translating to an average household impact of about $3,800 over the next decade. The report warns that similar non‑tariff barriers are emerging across Asia, including competition and data‑localization rules in Japan, India and China, further disadvantaging U.S. firms.