The U.S.-Korea Business Council (USKBC) is the premier business advocacy organization representing America’s top companies engaged with Korea. It is made up of senior-level executives of U.S. companies from every business sector that are major investors in Korea and are actively committed to the Korean market.
The USKBC was established in 1987 with a mission to foster better business ties between the United States and Korea, as well as to promote the bilateral economic and political relationship in order to expand trade and investment between the two countries.
The origins of the U.S.-Korea Business Council and the Korea-U.S. Business Council date to July 1986, when James M. Voss, chairman of the Caltex Corporation, and Dr. Nam Duck-Woo, chairman of the Korea-U.S. Economic Council (KUSEC), agreed to organize a joint conference of U.S. and Korean business executives. The U.S.-Korea Business Council and the Korea-U.S. Business Council were established in 1987 to realize this vision.
The U.S.-Korea Business Council was established as an independent organization under the chairmanship of David Roderick, chairman of the USX Corporation. KUSEC (now hosted by the Korea International Trade Association) assumed responsibility as the secretariat of the Korean council, which was chaired by Dr. Nam Duck-woo. The two councils held their first joint steering committee meeting in March 1998 and their inaugural joint conference in October 1988 in Seoul, Korea.
The founding mission of the councils was to foster better business ties between the United States and Korea, and to promote the bilateral economic and political relationship in order to expand trade and investment between the two countries. Through dialogue, working groups, and other unilateral and joint initiatives, the councils for more than twenty years have led efforts in both the United States and Korea to improve the bilateral trade and investment environment.
In 1999, the Federation of Korean Industries assumed responsibility from KUSEC as the secretariat of the Korea-U.S. Business Council. In 2002, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce became secretariat of the U.S.-Korea Business Council.
New for 2020, the Chamber outlines the top policy priorities for international trade and investment. The Chamber advocates for trade and investment agreements that are fair and accountable create a level playing field and put American families and workers first.
Members of the U.S.-Korea Business Council and the Korea-U.S. Business Council (the “Councils”) held the 32nd Annual Joint Plenary Meeting on November 16-17 EST (November 17-18 KST) in a hybrid—in-person and virtual—format due to public health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Centered around the theme, “Fostering U.S.-Korea Commercial Relations and Promoting Economic Growth and Innovation,” the Councils assembled senior business leaders from the United States and Korea to discuss creative ways to enhance U.S.-Korea commercial collaboration and business resiliency and to promote sustainable economic growth.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs Myron Brilliant issued the following statement today regarding the recently signed Regional Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (RCEP):
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Korea Business Council and the Korea-U.S.
2019 JOINT STATEMENTU.S-Korea Business Council and Korea-U.S. Business Council October 11, 2019 | Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Charles Freeman, U.S. Chamber senior vice president for Asia, issued the following statement regarding the United States Trade Representative's first-ever request for consultations under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Korea Business Council and the Korea-U.S.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Korea Business Council and the Korea-U.S. Business Council issued a joint statement upon conclusion of their 30th annual plenary meeting.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Korea Business Council (USKBC) today issued the following statement regarding the U.S.
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Submission on the Indo-Pacific Strategy
On January 16, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its various bilateral business councils submitted comments in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration’s Federal Register Notice on Energy, Information and Communication Technology, and Infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific Region.