South Korea parliament due to finalise draft US investment bill under trade deal


Employees work at Pyeongtaek port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL, March 9 (Reuters) - A ⁠South Korean parliamentary committee is expected to finalise the ⁠wording of a special bill on Monday, paving the way ‌for a plenary vote this week to enable $350 billion of U.S. investments under a bilateral trade deal between the countries.

The bill is expected to be put ​to a full National Assembly vote on ⁠March 12, as the ⁠U.S. ally responds to pressure from Washington over perceived delays in ⁠enacting ‌the deal.

The "Special Act on Investment in the U.S." will set up an investment vehicle, as well as a risk ⁠management committee to implement last year's agreement for ​South Korea to ‌invest in sectors such as shipbuilding and chips in return ⁠for lower ​U.S. tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened in January to hike tariffs on imports from South Korea, accusing the country's parliament of delays in ⁠enacting the trade deal.

Top South Korean officials ​have said the U.S.-South Korea trade deal remains valid despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision in February that struck down a large ⁠swath of Trump's tariffs.

Officials in Seoul have, however, voiced concerns about the impact of U.S. investments on an already weak won currency and said that projects would be based on consideration of ​commercial feasibility and foreign exchange market conditions.

The ⁠special committee, which includes lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party and the ​opposition People Power Party, is expected to ‌review the final bill at a ​subcommittee on Monday and approve it at a general meeting in the afternoon.

(Reporting by Joyce LeeEditing by Ed Davies)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Ukraine sent drone experts to protect US bases in Jordan, Zelenskiy tells NYT
Indonesia searches for missing after landfill collapse kills four
Bangladesh shuts universities early to save power amid energy crisis
Shots fired at Rihanna's house in Beverly Hills, no injuries reported, media say
Brothers of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre visit New Mexico ranch, demand unredacted documents
Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his slain father as supreme leader
As Fukushima memories fade, Japan embraces a nuclear-powered future
Jailed Istanbul mayor faces trial amid crackdown on Turkey's opposition
Iran names Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as new supreme leader, state media report
Roundup: Finland's nuclear weapons ban lift plan sparks broad debate

Others Also Read