South Korea to Send High-Level Trade Team to Washington After Trump Raises Tariffs
South Korea announced Tuesday that it will send a high-level delegation to Washington following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to sharply raise tariffs on South Korean imports.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will travel to the United States to hold urgent discussions with their American counterparts. The talks aim to address concerns surrounding the sudden tariff increase and to prevent further trade disruptions between the two longtime allies.
The decision came after an emergency interagency meeting in Seoul, chaired by Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy. The meeting was convened just hours after President Trump announced the tariff hike through social media, catching South Korean officials off guard.
President Trump said the United States would increase so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on South Korean goods from 15% to 25%. He criticized South Korea’s National Assembly for what he described as delays in implementing a bilateral trade agreement finalized late last year.
The tariff move has raised concerns among South Korean exporters, particularly in the automotive, electronics, and steel sectors, which rely heavily on access to the U.S. market. Analysts say the upcoming talks will be critical in determining whether the two countries can ease tensions and preserve stable trade relations.
Both governments have emphasized the importance of dialogue, and Seoul expressed hope that diplomatic engagement would lead to a mutually acceptable solution.
