Seoul: Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Tuesday he plans to arrange phone talks with newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump in the near future. Trump took office as the United States' 47th president Monday (U.S. time), renewing his vow to "put America first" and tariff foreign countries to enrich Americans, sparking concerns about their potential consequences for South Korea's export-driven economy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi emphasized the importance of initiating high-level communication between the two nations' foreign and industry ministers. "We will work to arrange a call with President Trump soon and actively engage in high-level communication," Choi stated during a meeting with government officials to discuss economic issues.
Even though Trump refrained from imposing tariffs on his first day in office, he reiterated his plan to revamp trade policies aimed at benefiting Americans in his inauguration speech. Choi expressed concern that some of Trump's proposed policy changes might significantly impact South Korea's economy, and he noted that preparations are already underway to address potential challenges.
Choi revealed that a working-level delegation has been sent to Washington, D.C., to evaluate the background and specific details of forthcoming measures. He underscored the necessity of thorough preparation to foster cooperative relationships across various sectors with the new U.S. administration and to alleviate public anxiety.