Lead

E-commerce giant Coupang Inc. spent $250,000 on lobbying the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during the second quarter of the year, according to a disclosure report filed by the Trump-linked lobbying firm Ballard Partners. The report, posted on the Senate website for Lobbying Disclosure Act reports, covers lobbying activities from April 1 to June 30 and comes as U.S. officials have criticized South Korea's regulatory probes into Coupang's massive data leak.

Coverage Comparison

The lobbying report was first reported by Yonhap News. It highlighted that Ballard Partners, founded by influential lobbyist Brian Ballard and known for its close ties to President Donald Trump, received the funds for its work on behalf of Coupang. The firm's lobbying activities were focused on issues related to U.S. export promotion, international economic policy, investment flows, and efforts to strengthen commercial ties with allies including South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Britain, and the European Union, the report stated.

In addition to the lobbying disclosure, Yonhap also reported on President Trump's personal trades in Coupang shares. According to financial disclosure reports filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Trump made 18 trades in Coupang shares from October to May. The reports, released in May and June, showed transactions through two investment accounts, with values listed in ranges. They suggested that Trump likely holds Coupang shares worth up to $130,000.

Furthermore, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reported having received a $10,000 honorarium from Coupang on May 17, 2024, according to a separate disclosure.

Key Claims

  • $250,000 lobbying payment: Coupang paid $250,000 to Ballard Partners, a firm with close ties to President Trump, for lobbying activities during Q2 of the current year. The payment was disclosed on the Senate website for Lobbying Disclosure Act reports.
  • Trump's trades in Coupang shares: Trump made 18 trades in Coupang shares from October to May, with values ranging from $1,001 to $100,000. The transactions were conducted through two investment accounts and were disclosed in reports to the Office of Government Ethics.
  • House Judiciary Committee criticism: A House Judiciary Committee interim staff report, issued on July 1, accused South Korea of 'discriminatory attacks' on Coupang and other American companies, claiming that South Korea's treatment violates a bilateral trade deal.
  • White House official's concern: A White House official expressed concern that Coupang is being 'singled out' by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration, labeling the targeting as 'discriminatory.'
  • USTR Greer's honorarium: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer reported receiving a $10,000 honorarium from Coupang on May 17, 2024.

Perspectives

While the report from Yonhap does not include direct responses from the South Korean government or Coupang, the article notes that South Korea is making efforts to ensure the Coupang issue does not undermine alliance cooperation. In a separate update, Coupang provided comments to Yonhap regarding the criticism. The company's response, as reported, may be seen as a defense against the allegations of unfair treatment.

(Note: The response includes Coupang's comments, but they were not fully captured in the provided text. The article reflects the overall situation where the company's response is part of the coverage.)