Michelle Steel, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to South Korea, speaks during her confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, in this photo captured from a livestream from the committee's website. Yonhap
WASHINGTON — The nominee for the United States' top envoy to South Korea vowed Wednesday to ensure that American companies operating in the Asian country are not discriminated against, if she is confirmed by the Senate.
During a confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Michelle Steel, a former Korean American congresswoman, made the remarks, highlighting her commitment to enhancing U.S. national security and economic prosperity by strengthening the Seoul-Washington alliance.
"Last year in November, President Trump and President Lee, they actually set the agreement for a joint fact sheet. On that joint fact sheet, they made it very clear that U.S. companies cannot be discriminated (against), nor are they going to have unnecessary barriers," she said.
"If I get confirmed, yes, I am going to follow up with that very clearly because all the Korean companies here in the U.S., they get equal treatment, and I think U.S. companies in South Korea have to get equal treatment too," she added.
