By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

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The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with General Motors Korea (GM Korea) and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on May 8 to jointly promote the “Buy America” campaign.

The agreement builds on a strong foundation of collaboration among the three organizations to further expand the campaign’s impact.

This agreement is designed to foster a fair business environment and improve consumer access to GM vehicles in Korea through mutual cooperation. It also supports the broader objectives of the “Buy America” campaign by encouraging greater procurement of American-made products and advancing a more balanced and mutually beneficial U.S.-Korea trade relationship.

Under the agreement, AMCHAM and KCCI will endeavor to encourage their member companies to include GM vehicles in their executive and business-use fleet brochures, with the aim of increasing procurement from GM Korea.

GM Korea, in turn, will provide competitive rates, ensure timely delivery, and offer high-quality after-sales service to AMCHAM and KCCI member companies.

AMCHAM will actively engage with both GM Korea and KCCI to address regulatory issues that impact the entry and expansion of GM vehicles in Korea, in line with its broader “Buy America” campaign.

“Today’s MOU with GM Korea and KCCI marks the fourth official partnership under AMCHAM’s ‘Buy America’ campaign and comes at a timely moment as U.S.-Korea trade discussions gain momentum,” said James Kim, Chairman and CEO of AMCHAM.

“This agreement provides a meaningful framework to improve Korean consumer access to GM vehicles and advancing industrial cooperation. It also reflects GM Korea’s long-standing commitment to the market and its role as the largest foreign direct investor in Korea. We look forward to continued collaboration with our partners to drive mutual growth,” he added.

The agreement was signed by James Kim, Chairman & CEO of AMCHAM; Chey Tae-won, Chairman of KCCI; Hector Villarreal, President & CEO of GM Korea. All parties agreed to dedicate their best effort to continue their cooperation, with a shared commitment to transparency and mutual trust.

In his remarks, Chairman of KCCI Chey Tae-won said, “With the Korean and U.S. governments actively engaged in trade discussions, now is a pivotal moment to reduce uncertainty in Korea’s trade with the United States.” He continued, “Ultimately, it is the private sector that drives meaningful outcomes. In that regard, this MOU is especially significant as a model of private-sector-driven cooperation.”

President & CEO of GM Korea Hector Villarreal said, “This agreement is a strategic step toward expanding GM vehicle sales in the Korean market. By working with AMCHAM and KCCI, together we are building fair business environment to sales and deliver GM vehicles to more customers and strengthen our commercial impact. We are fully committed to growing our business in Korea through performance, partnership, and service excellence.”

This agreement is part of AMCHAM’s ongoing “Buy America” campaign, which aims to facilitate Korean companies’ expansion into the U.S. market and enhance bilateral trade and investment relations. Throughout 2025, AMCHAM will continue fostering high-impact partnerships with key industry stakeholders, broadening the procurement of U.S. goods and services in Korea, and reinforcing its mission to drive economic growth and strengthen U.S.-Korea trade ties.