The U.S. government has reportedly urged Korea to present a final negotiation plan regarding trade talks, including the reciprocal tariff announced to be imposed starting next month on the 1st, as of the 29th (local time).
The U.S. daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urged South Korean government officials to "bring the best and final trade negotiation plan to the table".
According to the report, Secretary Lutnick said in a recent meeting with South Korean officials in Scotland that he should "bring everything" when presenting the final proposal to President Donald Trump.
Secretary Lutnick emphasized to the Korean side that he must convince why a new agreement with Korea is necessary when President Trump has already signed numerous trade agreements with major partners such as the European Union (EU), Japan, and the United Kingdom, WSJ reported.
Earlier, Secretary Lutnick confirmed in an interview with Fox News that he met with Minister Kim Jong-gwan of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Deputy Minister Yeo Han-koo in Scotland, but did not comment on additional details.
Minister Kim and Deputy Minister Yeo met with Secretary Lutnick for negotiations on two occasions from the 24th to the 25th. They met in Washington, D.C. on the 24th and continued the negotiations by visiting his home in New York on the 25th.
As Secretary Lutnick accompanied President Trump on a visit to Scotland, Minister Kim and Deputy Minister Yeo are also reported to have traveled to Scotland to meet with Secretary Lutnick.