US-Asia FMA

Important read! Nathan Picarsic from @FDD argues that as the U.S. and South Korea work to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen allied supply chains, regulatory fairness matters. He states that South Korea risks damaging both its investment climate and its alliance with the United States by applying an unusual regulatory designation to Coupang and its founder, Bom Kim. Policies that appear to disproportionately target U.S. companies risk undermining investment, trust, and the broader alliance. A stronger U.S.-Korea partnership starts with a level playing field. Read the op-ed: fdd.org/analysis/2026/… #FDD #southkorea #investmentclimate #nontariffbarriers #fdi #fairtrade #usasiafma

Appearing before the @HouseForeignGOP, Secretary of State @marcorubio said that South Korea’s treatment of U.S. tech companies is a major obstacle to advancing a U.S.-Korea trade agreement. Rubio stated that South Korea is “targeting our technology companies” and engaging in conduct the U.S. views as unfair and that has “frankly impacted our ability to conclude a trade agreement.” Having a senior U.S. official publicly acknowledge these concerns is an important step. Meaningful trade progress requires addressing unfair non-tariff barriers and ensuring U.S. companies can compete on a level playing field abroad. #trade #southkorea #Asia #tech #nontariffbarriers #fairtrade

Speaking at a @CFR_org event, @USTradeRep Jamieson Greer observed that “many of these countries have already eliminated tariffs and many of the nontariff barriers” in reference to Malaysia and other countries in the region. We applaud these efforts and encourage continued progress toward greater trade openness across the region. #malaysia #china #USTR #nontariffbarriers #fairtrade

AI governance is diverging across the Indo-Pacific, causing U.S. businesses to navigate multiple regulatory systems for the same technology. From China's centralized oversight to Japan's and Singapore's guidance-based approaches, U.S. companies are navigating an increasingly fragmented AI regulatory landscape. Diverging compliance requirements raise costs, increase uncertainty, and weakens long-term investment confidence across the Indo-Pacific. Policymakers should work toward transparency, regional integration, and regulatory compatibility that enable innovation while maintaining trust and accountability. A fragmented AI landscape risks slowing investment and limiting the full economic potential of AI across the region. Read more: nbr.org/publication/di… #fairtrade #indopacific #china #singapore #japan #asia #trade #usasiafma #fdi #AI

President Lee says the U.S.-South Korea alliance is strong, but his record tells a different story, one that William Barclay lays out clearly in his latest op-ed. A recommended read: washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/… #southkorea #trade #nontariffbarriers #fairmarkets #fairtrade #usasiafma #Asia

Be sure to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, The Fair Market Forum, to stay up to date on the latest developments in U.S.-Asia trade relations and the ongoing successes of the U.S.-Asia FMA! Sign up here: usasiafairmarkets.org/stay-engaged/ #fairmarkets #fairtrade #nontariffbarriers #Asia #trade #internationalrelations

South Korea remains a major economic and technology hub, but its lower FDI inflows compared to more predictable investment environments like Singapore and Japan highlight how regulatory consistency and transparency shape investor confidence. Learn more: usasiafairmarkets.org/the-growing-di… #fairtrade #fdi #asia #trade #usasiafma #southkorea #nontariffbarriers #Singapore #investment #Japan

“[Japan] remains one of the most stable and predictable investment environments globally,” writes Jason Chung. Strong legal institutions, transparent governance, and reliable enforcement continue to make Japan a model for attracting long-term investment. In today’s economy, predictability is a competitive advantage. However, American businesses are not experiencing the same predictability and fairness as their domestic competitors in Japan. If Japan wants to continue increasing its FDI, it needs to address the NTBs that are targeting American companies operating within its borders. Read Chung’s op-ed: dcjournal.com/the-growing-di…

“Competing for investment today requires more than market access or industrial capacity. It depends on maintaining confidence in the fairness and consistency of the system. Capital will continue to flow into Asia. The question is where it will concentrate and where investors will feel welcomed.” Jason Chung writes in his recent op-ed. We completely agree. The future of foreign investment in Asia will depend on whether American businesses can compete on a fair and level playing field. That is why NTBs that unfairly target U.S. firms need to be addressed immediately before they continue to weaken long-term growth and innovation in Asia. Read Chung’s op ed: dcjournal.com/the-growing-di… #capital #asia #fdi #nontariffbarriers #investment #fairtrade #usasiafma

For years, U.S. companies operating in Korea have raised concerns about regulatory discrimination, uneven enforcement, and barriers that disadvantage foreign businesses. Michelle Steel, President Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to Korea, publicly acknowledging these issues is an important step toward ensuring fair market access and stronger trade enforcement. Read more: ocregister.com/2026/05/20/for… #southkorea #asiarelations #fairtrade #trade #usasiafma #nontariffbarriers

“Capital is becoming more selective. Investors are placing greater weight on predictability, transparency, and regulatory consistency” -From Jason Chung in his most recent op ed. Chung’s statement highlights why rules-based trade and fair competition matters for Asian and American businesses. Investors are less likely to commit capital where discriminatory barriers and unpredictable regulations create uncertainty. Predictability drives investment and investment drives growth. Read Chung’s op ed: dcjournal.com/the-growing-di… #Asia #FairTrade #Americanbusinesses #trade #usasiafma

“American companies operating in Korea deserve the same market access that Korean companies enjoy in the United States.” – U.S. Nominee to be Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel during her Senate confirmation hearing. We couldn’t agree more! American companies deserve the same fair treatment abroad that companies receive here in the US. Reciprocity matters. Read more: ocregister.com/2026/05/20/for… #michellesteel #usasiafma #fairtrade #reciprocity #trade #southkorea #asia

This week's US-China summit made headlines, but fair trade is about more than soybeans and Boeing jets. Across Asia, American companies face a hidden obstacle course: data rules that strand their operations, fines that target them disproportionately, and laws that treat foreign firms as second-class competitors. #AsiaRelations #fairtrade #nontariffbarriers #trade #Asia #usasiafma

“China has not treated U.S companies fairly” Watch our Executive Director @mowers talk about China’s non-tariff barriers that disproportionately target American companies #trade #nontariffbarriers #newsmax #China

Tune in to Newsmax at 6pm ET tonight to catch our Executive Director @mowers, speak on the Trump-Xi Summit and what he hopes to see come out of this week’s meetings in Beijing, especially regarding non-tariff barriers that are spreading across Asia. Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=hcc7rZ… #newsmax #USChinaSummit #China #US #USAsiaFMA #Trade #Beijing #nontariffbarriers

The next frontier of trade policy isn’t goods — it’s data. As countries tighten control over cross-border data flows, the question isn’t just privacy or security. It’s fairness, access, and who leads the digital economy. Why it matters now: usasiafairmarkets.org/digital-trade-… #datalocalization #digitaltrade #USAsiaFMA #Asia #Trade #nontariffbarriers

Data is the backbone of modern trade and it’s increasingly being walled off. From China to India, new rules on data flows are creating hidden barriers for U.S. firms in tech, finance, and services. What that means for global competition: usasiafairmarkets.org/digital-trade-… #digitaltrade #data #nontariffbarriers #trade #Tech #USAsiaFMA

Trade barriers aren’t just tariffs anymore. For a growing share of the U.S. economy, the real friction is data. New restrictions across Asia are reshaping how companies operate, invest, and compete globally. Read more: usasiafairmarkets.org/digital-trade-… #USAsiaFMA #DigitalTrade #DataLocalization #Asia #Trade #nontariffbarrier