US bill targets foreign officials over alleged discrimination against American firms

A bill that could bar foreign officials accused of discriminating against American companies from entering the United States has been introduced, carrying potential implications for Korea-U.S. relations by citing the Korean government's investigation into e-commerce platform Coupang over its massive customer data breach as a key example. U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner on Thursday (local time) filed the bill, or the proposed No Racketeers on Our Shores Act, which seeks to impose an entry ban for foreign officials “who weaponize the government to discriminate against American companies.” According to a fact sheet on the bill, it would amend the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act to deny entry to, or deport, foreign government officials who engage in economic discrimination against U.S. individuals or companies. It targets officials who use government authority to impose investigations, fines, taxes, licensing decisions or other regulatory measures on American businesses more harshly than on similarly situated domestic or non-U.S. companies. Baumgartner cited Coupang’s case as a key