S. Korean firms urge US to clarify 'foreign entity of concern'

South Korean companies have asked the United States to clarify from which foreign companies they are not required to import critical electric vehicle battery minerals under the US Inflation Reduction Act, industry sources said Sunday.

Senior executives of South Korean battery and material companies made the request to US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves during a closed-door meeting in Seoul on Friday.

The executives who attended the meeting were from South Korea's three leading car battery makers -- LG Energy Solution, SK On and Samsung SDI -- and EV material firms -- Posco Future M, SK ie technology Co. and Lotte Energy Materials Co.

The executives have asked the United States to quickly clarify the definition of "foreign entity of concern" to resolve uncertainties in their businesses and investments.

They called on the US to take into account the complexity and global interdependence of the supply chains of EV batteries when setting the scope of a foreign entity of concern.

The IRA offers tax credits of up to $7,500 to each buyer of a new electric vehicle only assembled in North America.

To be eligible, vehicles must meet sourcing requirements for both the critical minerals and battery components contained in the vehicle, according to US Treasury Department.

Beginning in 2024, eligible vehicles may not contain any battery components that are manufactured by a foreign entity of concern, and beginning in 2025, such vehicles may not contain any critical minerals that were extracted, processed or recycled by such entities, according to the department. (Yonhap)