SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea delayed a decision on Friday on Google’s request for permission to export map data, following U.S. pressure to address what Washington regards as a non-tariff barrier during recent trade talks, its transport ministry said.
The move comes as South Korea and the United States are preparing for a summit of their leaders, possibly this month, after reaching a trade deal in late July.
South Korea previously rejected a request from Google, whose parent is Alphabet, for permission to use map data on servers outside the country in 2016 and 2007, citing security concerns.
South Korea, whose 1950-53 war with North Korea ended without a peace treaty, argues that if it allowed such data to leave the country, the locations of military facilities and other sensitive sites could be revealed.
But the U.S. said restrictions on cross-border data flows have long served as a barrier to operating navigation services through Google Maps and Apple Maps, resulting in U.S. companies losing out in the South Korean market.
South Korea did not make concessions on the map issue and also on further opening up agriculture despite early and intense bilateral talks, presidential adviser Kim Yong-beom had said.
It was not clear whether the issues will be discussed at the upcoming summit.
(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Joyce Lee; Editing by Alex Richardson and David Holmes)
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