President Trump agreed to a historic trade deal with South Korea this fall. The deal pledged that the Asian state would respect American companies and interests. But Korean officials already want to violate its spirit by punishing American-owned businesses.

South Korean leaders want to impose strict restrictions on U.S. tech companies to support their own businesses and to encourage greater censorship. Kim Nang-geun, an influential advisor to left-wing president Lee Jae-myung, argues that the tentative trade agreement doesn’t prevent his country from cracking down on tech platforms, even though the joint factsheet explicitly excludes such actions. Other senior officials are also clamoring for legislation to hurt American interests and restrict tech platforms in spite of Trump’s requests. Some, such as Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) Chairman Ju Byung-ki, demand these restrictions out of animosity towards America and our economic system.

Among his many anti-American rants, Byung-ki claims, “The Trump administration’s tariff war is just a shallow trick to solve internal problems by covering the deep ills of American society and brushing the pockets of other countries and foreign companies.” This doesn’t sound like an honest partner wanting to promote “fair trade.”

This reckless rhetoric indicates South Korea doesn’t respect President Trump or his agenda. Thankfully, White House officials aren’t taking this affront lying down. US Trade Representative Jameison Greer has vowed America will punish any South Korean transgressions with a Section 301 investigation, saying any abrogation of the joint factsheet will not be “tolerated.”

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson has also publicly warned South Korea about its unfair moves. “We expect that foreign governments not only treat our firms the same as other firms, but also that they treat our firms the way we treat theirs,” he said in a recent statement.

Trump called out South Korea’s moves in a Truth Social post during trade negotiations over the summer:

I will stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies. Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology. They also, outrageously, give a complete pass to China’s largest Tech Companies. This must end, and end NOW!

What South Korea wants to do, as indicated by its leftist KFTC, is to enact legislation along the lines of Europe’s onerous tech restrictions. The European Union recently passed legislation that would disproportionately impact American tech companies and impose strict censorship guidelines on these platforms. The rules violate the spirit of the free market and harm American interests. The Trump administration has badgered Europe to alter its draconian rules to treat American interests fairly. South Korean leaders didn’t get the memo. They instead think these left-wing ideas are worth pursuing, regardless of what Washington says.

Trump’s trade agenda aims to make the world respect American industry and interests once again. America is done with our supposed allies taking advantage of our generosity with unfair trade arrangements and punitive measures against our own businesses. This sentiment underpinned the tentative agreement Trump made with South Korea. Korean leaders were supposed to vow to implement fairer policies that benefited both America and their own country. But their continued pursuit of insane tech regulations shows their lack of commitment.

It’s up to the Trump administration to ensure they follow our fair trade policies—or face the consequences for selfish defiance.

[H/T American Greatness]