Seoul: Acting President Choi Sang-mok held talks with former trade ministers and officials on Thursday, where participants underscored the need for close coordination between the government and businesses in dealing with the new U.S. administration's trade policies, his office said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the luncheon meeting brought together former Trade Ministers Kim Jong-hoon, Park Tae-ho, and Yoo Myung-hee, as well as former Vice Foreign Ministers Lim Sung-nam and Lee Tae-ho, who served under previous administrations.
The participants noted that recent tariff measures imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump present both challenges and opportunities, saying South Korea may not necessarily be at a disadvantage if it responds strategically.
The experts emphasized the importance of preparing a comprehensive trade package in cooperation with the private sector to effectively navigate trade negotiations with Washington.
The ministry said the participants advised against rushing into talks with the United States and instead recommended closely monitoring the stance of key partners, such as the European Union.