Export Controls, AI Strategy, and Korea’s Tech Future | Ep. 22

In this episode of Eye on Korea, Jeannette Chu describes the evolution of U.S. export controls, from multilateral coordination to today’s more unilateral “small yard, high fence” approach. These shifts fit into a broader national security strategy, she argues, and have important implications for Korea’s role as a leading innovation partner in semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing. The conversation also looks at the White House’s AI Action Plan and where U.S. policy is heading next. Jeannette discusses why the traditional separation between security and economics is becoming less relevant for understanding South Korea’s foreign-policy priorities. The discussion also explores the Supreme Court case surrounding IEEPA tariff authorities, the trade and economic priorities shaping Trump’s 2025 agenda, and the biggest trade and technology issues to watch as we head into 2026. Jeannette L. Chu is Vice President for National Security Policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, where she leads the Council’s work on export controls, sanctions, and national security regulatory policy. A former Senior Managing Director at PwC and Senior Policy Advisor at the Bureau of Industry and Security, she served nearly six years in China as the Senior Export Control Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and Consulate General in Guangzhou. She is also a Non-Resident Senior Associate with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS.

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