Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Climate Adaptation at Home: How Irrigreen Makes Conservation Effortless 
Panama Supreme Court Voids CK Hutchison Port Concessions, Raising Geopolitical and Trade Concerns 
FCC Chairman Raises Competition Concerns Over Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery Deal 
Trump Administration Expands Global Gag Rule, Restricting U.S. Foreign Aid to Diversity and Gender Programs 
Kevin Warsh’s Fed Nomination Raises Questions Over Corporate Ties and U.S.–South Korea Trade Tensions 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
South Korea Repatriates 73 Suspected Online Scammers From Cambodia in Major Crackdown 
Panama Supreme Court Voids Hong Kong Firm’s Panama Canal Port Contracts Over Constitutional Violations 
Saks Global to End Saks on Amazon Partnership Amid Bankruptcy Restructuring 
Faith Leaders Arrested on Capitol Hill During Protest Against Trump Immigration Policies and ICE Funding 
U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on Haiti Transitional Council Over Gang Allegations 
Trump’s Iraq Envoy Mark Savaya Ousted Amid U.S.-Iraq Tensions Over Iran Influence 
NTSB Opens Investigation Into Waymo Robotaxis After School Bus Safety Violations in Texas 
Trump Threatens Aircraft Tariffs as U.S.-Canada Jet Certification Dispute Escalates 
Bob Iger Plans Early Exit as Disney Board Prepares CEO Succession Vote 
The United States has agreed to expand support for South Korean workers at U.S. investment sites, easing visa access for those tasked with setting up and servicing facilities. According to South Korea’s foreign ministry, the U.S. government will allow South Korean nationals to work on-site under existing temporary visas and will establish new channels to streamline visa processing for business-related travel.
The decision comes after a diplomatic working group meeting involving officials from the U.S. State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Commerce. While Washington reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties, it did not provide new solutions to Seoul’s ongoing request for broader visa access for specialized workers.
As part of the measures, a dedicated visa section for South Korean business workers will be set up at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. In addition, U.S. immigration authorities will launch a new coordination channel with South Korean missions to resolve visa-related issues more efficiently.
The creation of this working group followed a major immigration raid in September at a Hyundai Motor battery plant construction site in Georgia, where hundreds of South Korean workers were detained. The incident sparked public outrage in South Korea and underscored the lack of appropriate visa categories for skilled workers engaged in large-scale foreign investment projects.
Despite efforts by Seoul to push for new legislation that would expand U.S. visa options, progress has been slow due to political sensitivities around immigration in Washington. U.S. officials acknowledged that fundamental changes to the visa system face “practical legislative constraints.”
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized the “critical role” of South Korean skilled workers in supporting major investments by Korean companies. Both governments confirmed that the working group will continue holding meetings to improve cooperation and address ongoing challenges.
