Coupang Becomes a Trade Issue: U.S. Congress and Trump's Interests Highlight Complex Calculations in South Korea

With the U.S. Congress raising concerns about South Korea's alleged discriminatory treatment of American companies using Coupang as a case study, and President Donald Trump's direct ownership and trading of Coupang shares confirmed, the issue has evolved beyond a corporate dispute into a new variable in U.S.-South Korea trade negotiations. As U.S. authorities and Congress increasingly leverage Coupang as a symbol of corporate protectionism, analysts warn future trade pressures may follow. Recent disclosures of officials like Jamieson Gere, former USTR lawyer, and Allison Hooker, former State Department official, with ties to Coupang, further solidify its status as a key U.S. government concern. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's past role as a Coupang board member and recent stock sales also underscore its entanglement with U.S. policymakers. The U.S. Congress' recent report accusing South Korea of targeting Coupang with excessive investigations and sanctions under FTA principles has intensified scrutiny, though South Korea has swiftly denied these claims.