[ti:South Korea Angry Over New U.S. Trade Policy] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:02.12]South Korea says a new American tax law discriminates [00:06.84]against South Korean electric vehicle (EV) makers. [00:13.24]The issue may be a threat to relations between the long-time allies. [00:18.92]The United States Inflation Reduction Act passed last month. [00:24.52]It offers tax credits worth as much as $7,500 [00:30.12]to buyers of electric vehicles assembled in North America. [00:35.44]Experts say the measure was designed to assist EV manufacturing [00:40.44]in North America and block China from supply chains. [00:46.16]The bill also cancelled tax credits for some electric vehicles made overseas. [00:52.88]Among the most affected are the South Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia. [00:59.24]Together, they are in second place for most sales [01:02.00]in the U.S. electric vehicle market. [01:05.80]Only EV maker Tesla sells more. [01:08.60]South Korean business officials called the new law [01:13.20]a betrayal of World Trade Organization principles. [01:17.88]They also said that the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement [01:22.44]bans such discrimination against each other's imported products. [01:28.64]In the press, both conservative [01:30.72]and liberal opinion writers criticized the policy. [01:35.08]Some questioned if the South Korean government should end [01:38.60]its part in several U.S.-led economic programs in the country. [01:44.28]Some of those projects are considered critical to U.S. efforts in Asia. [01:50.56]South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun [01:53.48]spoke of the trade dispute at a press conference Tuesday. [01:58.80]It should be treated separately from those programs, he said. [02:02.76]But, the issue could, he said, [02:05.52]"shake the trust in the trade relationship itself." [02:10.12]Keeping good relations with both China [02:12.56]and the U.S. is difficult for South Korea. [02:17.08]It is home to about 28,000 American troops. [02:21.92]It also depends on trade with China more than any other country. [02:27.08]South Korea's conservative president, Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May. [02:33.16]He has moved to expand his country's economic [02:36.44]and security relationship with the United States. [02:40.92]The United States has agreed to talks with South Korea [02:43.92]to reduce the effect of the recent U.S. legislation. [02:48.76]But there has still been much criticism in South Korea [02:51.96]directed at both Yoon and American President Joe Biden. [02:57.28]So far, the reaction has mainly been limited [03:00.44]to published opinion pieces [03:02.24]and statements from business and government officials. [03:06.64]Jeongmeen Suh is an economics professor [03:09.68]at Seoul's Soongsil University. [03:13.24]He says the U.S. policy only affects [03:16.32]a limited number of South Korean companies [03:19.20]and might not be felt by the average citizen. [03:23.32]So, he thinks it unlikely that South Koreans will hold [03:26.76]any major protests over the trade law. [03:30.68]But if not settled quickly, the disagreement [03:33.60]could result in diplomatic problems, [03:36.24]such as Seoul taking the issue to the World Trade Organization. [03:41.24]Some voices have called for South Korea to take a stronger position [03:45.96]in line with its growing economic and diplomatic influence. [03:51.60]"If Korea remains passive, [03:53.76]it could once again become the victim of the great powers," [03:57.44]says a recent opinion writer in Hankyoreh. [04:02.28]"Korea needs to get over its ‘small country' mentality [04:06.20]and adopt an active posture." [04:10.16]I'm Jill Robbins. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM