Washington: A South Korean official stated on Thursday that a proposed U.S. tariff on South Korea, due to forced labor concerns, is "neither appropriate nor necessary." The official emphasized Seoul's dedication to eliminating forced labor both within its borders and internationally.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee Seung-heon, counselor for trade, industry, and resources at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, reiterated South Korea's stance during a public hearing on the proposed tariffs. He argued that if the U.S. chooses to implement the tariffs, "more favorable treatment" should be considered for South Korea.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has suggested a 12.5 percent tariff on South Korea and numerous other economies due to their alleged failure to enforce import bans on products made with forced labor. This follows investigations under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.

Lee expressed that South Korea maintains its fundamental position that actions against it concerning the importation of forced labor goods are "neither appropriate nor necessary." He further stated that even if the U.S. finds it necessary to impose tariffs on the investigated economies, South Korea believes, given its efforts, it deserves more favorable treatment than what has been proposed.

He highlighted South Korea's introduction and effective implementation of relevant norms aimed at eradicating forced labor both domestically and globally. Specifically, he noted Seoul's policy measures, such as the introduction of "Korean Sustainability Disclosure Standards" and the promotion of OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, which have supported private-sector efforts to remove forced labor inputs.

Additionally, Lee reiterated South Korea's commitment to last year's joint fact sheet with the U.S., in which South Korea pledged to work together to combat the importation of goods produced with forced labor.

The USTR's trade investigations covered 60 countries, including South Korea, China, and Japan, over forced labor concerns. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration seeks to replace "reciprocal" tariffs that were nullified by the Supreme Court in February.