Seoul: Acting President Han Duck-soo has declared that South Korea will not form an alliance with China and Japan to combat U.S. tariff measures, opting instead for negotiations with Washington.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Han revealed this stance in an interview released Tuesday, ahead of the Trump administration's 25 percent "reciprocal tariff" on South Korea, which is anticipated to significantly impact the export-driven economy of the Asian nation.
Han expressed skepticism about forming a coalition with China or Japan to counter the U.S. tariffs, as reported by the news channel. "I don't think that kind of fighting back will improve the situation dramatically," Han stated. He emphasized that South Korea "will not take that route."
The interview's release coincided with Han's conversation with President Trump, marking the first leader-to-leader phone call between the allies since Trump assumed office in January. Han is serving as acting president following the impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol over a brief imposition of martial law in December.
Trump's tariff strategy has included imposing duties on nations his administration labels "worst offenders," which encompasses key U.S. allies and partners. This has led to speculation that affected countries might unite with China to counteract Trump's increasing tariff measures. The tariffs, which include a minimum 10 percent "baseline" tariff, have put pressure on Asian economies.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) criticized the tariffs, referencing a recent trilateral meeting among the trade ministers of South Korea, Japan, and China. He described the meeting as potentially signaling global opposition to America.
Despite describing the tariffs as "a pity," Han indicated that South Korea would "negotiate in a cool way" with Washington, leveraging the "very strong alliance" between the two nations. Han conveyed optimism about reaching a resolution, acknowledging that "not everything will be solved in a day or two."
In response to the tariff increase, Seoul has dispatched top trade officials to Washington for discussions. Han reiterated South Korea's commitment to collaboration with the U.S. in a Facebook post, advocating for strengthening the alliance as both a security and economic partnership. He emphasized the importance of calm communication to ensure mutual interests are protected.