Senior Seoul trade official heads to US for talks on Trump tariffs
South Korea’s Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won departed for Washington on Monday to discuss new U.S. tariffs and trade policies under President Donald Trump, his office announced.
During his five-day visit, Park will meet officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and key figures in Congress to address concerns over proposed tariffs. The U.S. plans to impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, along with reciprocal tariffs on trading partners, including South Korea.
Park emphasized that his mission is to safeguard South Korean industries such as steel, automobiles, semiconductors, and home appliances from potential economic fallout. “The ministry will put in all-out efforts to protect the interests of South Korean companies amid growing uncertainties sparked by the U.S. government’s recent trade actions,” he stated.
South Korea was the fourth-largest exporter of steel and aluminum products to the U.S. in 2023, and its trade surplus with the U.S. reached $55.7 billion last year.
A South Korean business delegation led by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is also set to visit the U.S. to discuss bilateral economic cooperation and strategies to mitigate the impact of potential tariffs.
Park’s visit may also help arrange details for South Korea’s Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun’s upcoming U.S. trip, pending the confirmation of U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick and USTR nominee Jamieson Greer.
