Eye on Korea27 Mar 2025

Why America’s Manufacturing Future Depends On South Korea | Ep. 6

Former U.S. government official Don Graves joins the show to break down key issues in trade and investment, from cleantech and semiconductors to AI and robotics. He explains why these are “smart” investments for South Korea and what U.S. companies can unlock in the Indo-Pacific market through greater trade on the peninsula.

We discuss the long-term impact of the CHIPS Act and how it’s making it easier to attract South Korean and other foreign companies to the U.S. Graves also analyzes why tariffs may be a useful tool when applied thoughtfully, how unpredictability could undercut South Korean investment, and what Hyundai’s massive new steel plant and LNG purchase commitments are redefining what it means to be “Made in America.”

Other key topics include refinery capacity, and why the White House is right to be concerned about unfair Chinese trade practices—though a trade war isn’t the best way to respond. Plus, why the future of AI and quantum computing runs through South Korea and why neither the U.S. nor South Korea can fully leverage the gains from these technologies unless they are fully in sync.

Don Graves served as the 19th Deputy Secretary of Commerce under the Biden administration, where he led policy development on a range of issues including national security, bilateral trade, industrial strategy, and commercial space development. Mr. Graves served as Economic Growth Coordinator for Puerto Rico and was a member of the Helsinki Commission. He is currently a fellow at the Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service. Prior to his service in the Biden administration, Mr. Graves was the Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Responsibility and Community Relations at Key Bank.

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