61 Korean materials, parts and equipment firms take part

Hold one-on-one talks with more than 20 US manufacturers

Cooperation expands beyond autos, heavy equipment to manufacturing AI

The scene at the 2026 Global Partnership USA event, held by KOTRA over two days starting Tuesday in Chicago. Korean materials, parts and equipment companies discussed supply chain cooperation with US manufacturers. (Courtesy of KOTRA)
The scene at the 2026 Global Partnership USA event, held by KOTRA over two days starting Tuesday in Chicago. Korean materials, parts and equipment companies discussed supply chain cooperation with US manufacturers. (Courtesy of KOTRA)

As the United States accelerates manufacturing investment expansion and supply chain reorganization, Korean materials, parts and equipment firms are looking to break into the supply chains of major US manufacturers. General Motors, Stellantis, CNH and other leading US manufacturers met with 61 Korean companies, holding more than 200 consultations.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency said Friday it held the 2026 Global Partnership (GP) USA event over two days starting Tuesday in Chicago.

The event drew 61 Korean materials, parts and equipment firms from the auto parts, heavy equipment, farm machinery, secondary battery, power equipment and automation sectors. About 20 global manufacturers, including GM, Stellantis and CNH, took part from the US side.

The centerpiece was a Korea-US business meeting held Wednesday. More than 200 one-on-one consultations took place between Korean and US companies, with a sample exhibition space set up on-site where visitors could examine Korean firms' products and technology firsthand.

KOTRA said it spent months ahead of the event identifying US companies' procurement and technology needs and matching them with Korean firms. Cooperation, once centered on autos and machinery, has now expanded to manufacturing AI and automation.

Growing opportunities for Korean materials, parts and equipment firms are emerging as US production facility expansion and supply chain diversification continue, KOTRA said.

Particularly as skilled labor shortages coincide with demand to boost productivity, moves to apply AI and automation on factory floors are accelerating. In the US, manufacturing revival and AI infrastructure investment have recently been advancing together, driving expanded investment in production facilities, power and automation alike.

A Stellantis representative said, "We are looking for Korean battery materials and equipment companies that are competitive in the secondary battery sector." The representative added, "Since we were able to connect with technologically capable Korean companies and hold substantive business meetings, we will continue follow-up discussions."

KOTRA also expanded cooperation beyond autos and machinery into the power sector. Working with Korea Southern Power, it explored possibilities for Korean power companies to take part in US projects. Together with the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency, it held a seminar introducing US patent, trademark and trade secret regimes and strategies for responding to disputes.

Follow-up support will continue after the consultations. KOTRA plans to support additional talks so the procurement demand identified at the event can lead to actual exports and supply contracts. It will also seek out manufacturing AI-related cooperation projects centered on the US Midwest.

KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung said, "Amid accelerating US manufacturing investment, automation and supply chain reorganization, demand for cooperation with competitive Korean materials, parts and equipment companies is growing." He added, "We will use the demand identified through this project to systematically strengthen support so that cooperation ties between Korean and US companies can expand in supply chains, joint development and investment."


kwater@heraldcorp.com