The National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee decided to hold a policy inquiry of the government before Seollal regarding the South Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations. It also decided to discuss whether to place the Special Act on Investment in the United States on the agenda.
Lim Lee-ja, Chairperson of the National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee, met with reporters on the 4th after meeting with Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, who visited the National Assembly, and said, "We decided to have the floor leaders of both parties coordinate before Seollal to set the schedule for the policy inquiry, business report, and bill placement on the agenda," and stated accordingly.
Chairperson Lim said, "Regarding the Special Act on Investment in the United States, this is not an issue for the ruling and opposition parties to shift responsibility to each other, and we must put our heads together and think it through starting now," adding, "The policy inquiry will be conducted on the current situation related to the Special Act on Investment in the United States." She then said, "We also decided that whether to place the (Special Act on Investment in the United States) bill on the agenda will be determined by mutual agreement between the floor leaders."
However, Chairperson Lim said, "As for the National Assembly's ratification and consent for (investment in the United States), that is for the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee to decide; that is what they are discussing," adding, "(Separately, since the Strategy and Finance Committee is discussing the Special Act on Investment in the United States,) we are proceeding on two tracks."
Regarding U.S. President Donald Trump pointing to the National Assembly's legislative delay as the reason for a re-hike in tariffs, Chairperson Lim said, "There was no instance where the National Assembly delayed the law," adding, "This is not a situation where the People Power Party and the Democratic Party can pass the buck to each other, or the government can shift responsibility to us."
On this day, Deputy Prime Minister Koo visited the National Assembly to deliver a status report on the U.S. tariff re-hike. The meeting was attended by Chairperson Lim; Jeong Tae-ho, the ruling party floor leader on the Strategy and Finance Committee; and Park Soo-young, the opposition party floor leader. Cheon Ha-ram, Reform Party floor leader and a member of the committee, and Cha Gyu-geun of the Rebuilding Korea Party also joined.