Seoul: Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok announced plans to bolster the South Korea-U.S. alliance through upcoming trade discussions with the Donald Trump administration. Choi, who also serves as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, made this announcement before departing for the United States, where he aims to address key issues such as the recent U.S. tariff policies, which include a 25 percent import duty specific to South Korean goods.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi expressed his commitment to fostering renewed dialogue on the alliance between South Korea and the United States before his departure from Incheon International Airport. His visit to Washington will involve attending strategic economic meetings, marking the first high-level trade talks between the two countries since Trump assumed office in January.
Choi will be joined by Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun for what has been termed "2+2 trade consultations." These critical discussions are set to include U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The talks, scheduled for Thursday U.S. time, aim to address mutual economic and trade concerns.
Earlier, the South Korean ministry indicated that the agenda for the 2+2 trade consultations is still under discussion with U.S. counterparts and remains unfixed. South Korea is among the first nations to engage in trade negotiations with the U.S. following the Trump administration's introduction of reciprocal tariffs on all major trading partners. This policy has significantly impacted South Korea, with a 25 percent tariff imposed on its exports, temporarily reduced to 10 percent for a 90-day period.