S. Korea launches task force to respond to USTR probes

Seoul, March 20 The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources launched on Friday a joint task force with private industries to coordinate responses to the United States’ trade investigations into South Korea over structural excess capacity and forced labour, officials said. Earlier this month, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) launched consecutive trade inquiries into South Korea and other major economies to uncover what it calls “unfair” trade practices related to structural excess capacity and production, and separate probes involving forced labor under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. The task force, led by the ministry, comprises…