On April 2, 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a press release announcing that it had issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) for imports of sea salt products from Taepyung Salt Farm, a South Korean company, “based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor.” The WRO is effective immediately
South Korea
USTR Lighthizer Testifies before Senate on “The Road Ahead for the WTO”
On March 12, 2019, Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), testified before the Senate Finance Committee regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) and President Donald Trump’s desire for a more effective international trading system. In his prepared remarks, Ambassador Lighthizer stated that the United States remains active at all levels of the WTO but…
White House Releases Fact Sheet on President Trump’s First Two Years in Office
The White House has released a fact sheet listing the “historic results” of President Donald Trump’s first two years in office. For international trade, these results are listed:
”NEGOTIATING BETTER DEALS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: President Trump is negotiating fair and balanced trade deals that protect American industries and workers.
- President Trump negotiated a new
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2018 Year in Review – Overview of President Trump’s Major Trade Actions
International trade and international trade disputes were a predominant focus of President Trump and his trade officials throughout 2018. Thompson Hine’s Trump and Trade team has prepared a slide presentation to provide our readers with a broad overview of the most significant trade actions taken by the Trump administration last year. From the renegotiation of…
Revised Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement to Be Signed
With the international trade community’s focus on China (tariffs) and Mexico/Canada (NAFTA negotiations), it would be easy to forget another significant trade matter that the Trump administration has been seeking to finalize. According to reports, the revised Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) will be signed today after President Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in meet in New York City, where both are attending the start of the United Nations’ General Assembly plenary session.
Continue Reading Revised Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement to Be Signed
President Trump Releases 2018 Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has released the Trump administration’s Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report detailing how the administration “is promoting free, fair, and reciprocal trade and strongly enforcing U.S. trade laws.” USTR Robert Lighthizer, in releasing the report, stated that, “President Trump has launched a new era in American trade policy.…
White House Holds Meeting to Discuss Aluminum and Steel Trade Actions
President Trump and several Cabinet members hosted a meeting with congressional Republicans and Democrats on February 13, 2018 at the White House to discuss possible trade remedies in the Section 232 steel and aluminum investigations. The purpose of a Section 232 investigation is to determine the effect of imports on the national security of the…
United States and South Korea Hold Initial Meeting on Renegotiating Free Trade Agreement
On January 5, the United States and South Korea held their first meeting to discuss potential renegotiation of the U.S.- South Korea (KORUS) free trade agreement. In addition to discussing procedural and timetable issues, the United States discussed proposals to move toward fair and reciprocal trade in key industrial goods sectors, such as autos and…