Washington: The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said Thursday its business delegation has visited the United States this week to engage with U.S. government officials on bilateral trade issues.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the delegation, led by Chairman Yoon Jin-shik, was in Washington, D.C., from Monday through Thursday to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit. SelectUSA is a federal initiative designed to attract foreign direct investment, and this year's event was held from Sunday-Wednesday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
During the event, the delegation met with Trevor Kellogg, chief of staff for the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The South Korean delegates highlighted the significant role South Korean companies play in the U.S. economy through investment and job creation.
Yoon was quoted during the meeting with Kellogg as emphasizing the contribution of Korean companies to the U.S. economy by creating jobs and enhancing industrial production capabilities. He also requested U.S. officials to grant tariff exemptions on Korean imports of copper, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, which are currently under investigation by the DOC under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act.
In addition to meeting with federal officials, the delegation had talks with the governors of Maryland and Michigan, seeking continued support for Korean companies operating in their respective states.