Trump first-term aide calls US House 'Coupang report' a 'timely warning'

A figure close to Donald Trump has called a US House report alleging discriminatory treatment of American companies in South Korea a "timely warning," while arguing that minor trade disputes should not strain the US-South Korea alliance.

Fred Fleitz, vice president of the America First Policy Institute and a former chief of staff to the White House national security adviser during the first Trump administration, published a column Wednesday local time in the conservative outlet Newsmax under the headline "The US-Korea Alliance Is Indispensable and Should Be Treated That Way."

Fleitz called the report — released the previous day by the House Judiciary Committee, which alleged that the South Korean government discriminates against Coupang Inc and other American companies — a "timely warning." He said that by addressing such issues head-on, the two countries "can demonstrate that they prioritize strategic challenges over parochial disputes."

While sharing the committee's view that South Korea unfairly treats US companies, Fleitz said the alliance faces serious challenges — from North Korea's nuclear program to China's ambitions — that make it unacceptable to let tensions escalate over minor trade matters.

He said President Lee Jae Myung's pragmatic approach to US-South Korea security issues had "already produced significant progress" in areas including defense spending and nuclear energy cooperation, and went on to say that "extending that pragmatism to trade issues would greatly strengthen the foundation of the alliance."

The House Judiciary Committee released an interim report Tuesday under the names of its Republican chairman and the chairman of its regulatory reform subcommittee, alleging that the South Korean government discriminates against Coupang Inc and other American firms.

The South Korean government expressed regret over the report, saying it one-sidedly reflected claims made by Coupang Inc.