South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun has filed a request with the US government to exclude South Korea from its new tariff plans while discussing expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields, Ahn’s office said Saturday.
Ahn made the request as he met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, US Secretary of Interior and National Energy Dominance Council Chairman Doug Burgum, and other officials during his trip to Washington, D.C., this week, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Ahn’s trip came amid mounting concerns over the plan of US President Donald Trump’s administration to impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, as well as to introduce reciprocal tariffs, and his consideration of new tariffs on cars, chips and pharmaceuticals.
It marked the first visit to Washington by a ministerial official from Seoul since Trump took office last month.
“I have relayed South Korean businesses’ concerns over tariff plans (to the US side) and requested exemptions,” Ahn said during a meeting with reporters near Washington. “We plan to proceed with related discussions (with the US) through working-level consultative bodies in a direction that minimizes potential damage to Korean enterprises.”
Seoul is said to have underscored its position to the US that it aims to secure tariff exemptions first and foremost, and that if it fails to get exemptions, it hopes to at least ensure that South Korea is not put at a disadvantage compared with other countries.
In a meeting with Lutnick, Ahn conveyed Korean companies’ concerns over Washington’s tariff scheme, according to the industry ministry.
Lutnick is said to have highlighted the need to address US trade deficits and expressed hope for related cooperation with South Korea.
The two sides also discussed bolstering their partnership in strategic industries, such as shipbuilding and advanced industries.
To further discuss the issues, Ahn and Lutnick agreed to install respective working-level consultative bodies for talks on tariff plans and shipbuilding cooperation, the ministry said.
Ahn is also said to have explained to the US that when a Georgia factory of Hyundai Motor Co. starts its operation in earnest late next month, it could help substantially reduce US trade deficits stemming from South Korean auto exports.
In separate meetings with Greer and Burgum, the Korean industry minister discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy and trade.
The ministry said Ahn also met with Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, who introduced a bill aimed at revitalizing the US shipbuilding and maritime industries, to exchange views on bolstering cooperation in the sector.
Ahn also met with Kevin D. Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation; John J. Hamre, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Adam S. Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, to discuss Seoul’s strategy on US trade policies.
“South Korea will work to earn the best results from systematic and earnest negotiations with the US on new industry, trade and energy policies based on our experience of successfully responding to the US CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act in the past,” Ahn said in a press release. (Yonhap)
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