Washington: The United States has raised concerns over South Korea's restrictions on beef imports, living modified organisms (LMOs), and the overseas transfer of high-precision map data in their latest trade negotiations. Government sources revealed that these issues were discussed during the second round of technical discussions on trade imbalances and non-tariff barriers between the two countries, which took place in Washington last month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the items discussed are listed in the 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. This report was issued by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative ahead of the Trump administration's planned announcement of country-specific reciprocal tariffs. The NTE report highlighted South Korea's long-standing ban on American beef imports from cattle aged 30 months or older, a measure that has remained since the bilateral free trade agreement signed in 2008.
The report also pointed out challenges posed by Seoul's regulatory system for agricultural biotechnology, which affects U.S. agricultural exports. Additionally, South Korea's restrictions on exporting location-based data have reportedly put international suppliers at a competitive disadvantage. Google, for instance, has made repeated requests to transfer high-precision map data overseas, which South Korea has denied due to national security and digital sovereignty concerns. A decision on this matter is expected by August.
Both countries are working on a trade package deal addressing tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and economic cooperation, with a deadline set for July 8. This date marks the end of the Trump administration's 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs. South Korea has been negotiating for exemptions or reductions in the 25 percent reciprocal tariffs, as well as sectoral tariffs on steel, automobiles, and other imports.