2024.07.30
AMCHAM report calls for eased regulations in 9 sectors to lure companies
BY SARAH CHEA, Korea
JoongAng Daily - The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) released a
report urging Korea to ease regulations in nine key business sectors such as
defense and automobiles to increase the country's appeal for global companies.
The Business
Environment Insight for 2024 report specifically highlighted the sectors in
which Korean and U.S. firms have deep alliances, and includes an analysis on
the difficulties of running businesses in Korea. The nine sectors are defense,
agriculture, automobiles, alcoholic beverages, energy, the digital economy,
financial services, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
In aerospace and
defense, AMCHAM called for streamlining Korea's procurement process, such as
offset policies, to make them more predictable in line with global standards.
The business lobby
also suggested easing regulations on TV commercials for food and alcoholic
beverages, adding that the excessive policies and approval process pose
challenges for overseas firms operating in Korea.
The report also
mentions that Korea's unpredictable rules and taxation in EVs and car safety
may hinder its growing partnership with U.S. automakers. Korea's auto exports
to the United States surged by nearly 45 percent last year.
Other suggestions
include regulatory reform in digitization and data security to increase
predictability in an effort to make Korea a financial hub in the Asia-Pacific
region.
The latest report
follows AMCHAM's recent publication of the “Korea as an Asia-Pacific Regional
Headquarters Report” in March, in which it suggested regulatory reform to
elevate Korea's competitiveness as a regional business hub. Amcham also sent
the report to President Yoon Seok Yeol.
"The U.S.-Korea
economic relations are at an all-time high in terms of trade and investments,
with increasing opportunities for strategic industrial collaborations,"
said Amcham Chairman James Kim. "The policy suggestions highlighted in the
report, once implemented, will create a level playing field for both foreign
and domestic businesses in Korea, and deepening the vital bilateral trade and
investment ties between the two countries."