The pledge came during a 40-minute meeting in Washington with a high-level South Korean business delegation, led by Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group and head of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Executives from South Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, and LG, attended the meeting.
Rutnik identified six key sectors for cooperation: shipbuilding, energy, nuclear power, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and mobility.
His commitment aligns with President Donald Trump’s recently signed "America First Investment Policy" memorandum, which aims to streamline approval processes for investment projects exceeding $1 billion from allied nations.
“We recognize the critical role that South Korean companies play in advancing key industries, and we are committed to facilitating a more efficient investment landscape,” Rutnik said in a statement following the meeting.
Chey, for his part, welcomed the initiative but emphasized the need for further incentives.
“We will continue to explore investment opportunities, but there must be sufficient incentives to meet the administration’s push for increased U.S. production,” he said. He noted that concrete tax reduction measures had yet to be proposed.
Speaking separately at a Trans-Pacific Dialogue event in Washington, Chey stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, particularly in artificial intelligence and energy sectors.
He also underscored that further U.S. investments from South Korean firms would hinge on clear and tangible tax incentives from the Trump administration.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
