Washington: South Korea and the United States have commenced working-level discussions to promptly address South Korea's recent classification on the U.S. Department of Energy's "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)." South Korea's industry minister, Ahn Duk-geun, announced the initiation of these talks, emphasizing the urgency of resolving this issue, which could potentially impact the science and technology partnership between the two nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ahn's meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright was pivotal in addressing concerns over the SCL designation. During his visit to Washington, Ahn also engaged in discussions with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, advocating for South Korea to receive favorable treatment amid the U.S.'s impending reciprocal tariff measures set to be implemented next month.
Ahn conveyed South Korea's concerns to Wright and confirmed that both nations have agreed to cooperate to address the SCL issue expediently. He noted the U.S.'s assurance that the designation, effective April 15, will not disrupt ongoing and future bilateral collaborations.
The U.S. Department of Energy revealed that the prior Biden administration included South Korea on the SCL in early January. This list, which also features North Korea, China, and Russia, imposes stricter scrutiny on countries seeking access to DOE research facilities for technological cooperation.
The inclusion has sparked significant attention in Seoul, as many South Koreans perceive their country's placement alongside adversarial nations as a matter of trust within the U.S.-South Korea alliance. A senior official from Seoul indicated that the U.S.'s designation decision stems from broader technology security concerns rather than specific incidents.
South Korea has outlined plans to enhance security measures to address U.S. concerns, as conveyed by the official, who requested anonymity. The official also mentioned that both nations' ministries and departments have reached a clear understanding and agreement on addressing the designation issue.
During talks with Lutnick, Ahn reiterated South Korea's hope that its businesses will not be disadvantaged by the U.S.'s reciprocal tariffs. Ahn highlighted the interconnectedness of both countries in the technology sector and requested favorable treatment as the U.S. prepares to implement these tariff measures.
The Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs, set to begin on April 2, will be customized based on trading partners' tariff barriers and other factors such as exchange rates and perceived unfair trade practices.
Furthermore, Seoul and Washington have agreed to pursue a bilateral energy policy dialogue and a public-private energy forum to enhance cooperation. Both nations recognize the potential for collaboration in areas like liquefied natural gas, power grids, hydrogen energy, and small modular reactors, as highlighted by Ahn.