Minister Ahn Duk-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is expected to visit the United States as early as next week to engage in reciprocal tariff negotiations. Yoon Jin-sik, chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, is also preparing outreach activities locally next month in collaboration with major corporations such as Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, Hyosung Group, and Korean Air.
Minister Ahn is set to visit Washington, D.C., as early as next week to meet with Jameson Grier, the representative of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Howard Latnick, the Secretary of Commerce, and other senior U.S. officials to carry out tariff negotiations regarding South Korea. It is reported that he is currently coordinating the schedule with the U.S. side.
Han Duck-soo, the Acting Prime Minister, presided over a meeting of the Economic Security Strategy Task Force at the Prime Minister's official residence in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and noted, "To negotiate between the two countries, we will form a negotiation team led by Minister Ahn Duk-geun and push for a visit to the U.S. as soon as possible to initiate full-fledged negotiations."
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a willingness to compromise through bilateral negotiations by setting the tariff on China at 125% while delaying imposition on other countries, including South Korea, for 90 days, applying only a 10% basic tariff initially. The proposed reciprocal tariff rate for South Korea is set at 25%.
Minister Ahn previously visited the U.S. in February and March after the inauguration of the Trump administration, where he conveyed South Korea's stance on the tariff plans to senior officials such as Secretary Latnick. He also discussed ways to strengthen industrial cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the shipbuilding sector, which drew significant interest from the U.S.
The industry is forming a visiting delegation again following the visit made in February. This time, led by Chey Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, seven groups, including the Korea International Trade Association and various industry associations, will compose the delegation.
On the previous day, Lee In-ho, vice chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, Kim Jeong-hoe, vice chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, Park Tae-sung, vice chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association, and Lee Gyeong-ho, vice chairman of the Korea Iron and Steel Association, headed to Washington, D.C. They plan to meet with key U.S. government officials and members of both the House and Senate, as well as influential think tank figures, until the 17th. The Korea Automotive Mobility Industry Association, the Korea Shipbuilding and Marine Plant Association, and the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum will also participate in this schedule.
Yoon Jin-sik, chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, plans to explain the position of South Korean corporations and industries regarding the reciprocal tariff in Washington, D.C., next month with a trade delegation from KITA, the Korea International Trade Association. This delegation includes major corporations such as Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, Hyosung Group, and Korean Air.