Protecting agriculture in tariff talks
The deadline for Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations is all but here. On Aug. 1, the United States is set to impose the so-called “reciprocal” tariff on Korean exports — a measure that has been suspended since April. While the Korean government is making every effort in last-minute talks to safeguard key export industries such as automobiles and steel, the domestic agriculture sector is growing increasingly anxious, as sensitive products like rice and beef remain on the negotiating table. The U.S. has shown little interest in expanding imports of less sensitive goods, such as corn for fuel use, and is instead pressuring Korea to open its market to symbolic items like rice and beef. This approach has intensified concerns among Korean farmers that agriculture is being used as a bargaining chip in the negotiations. Amid the mounting controversy, the presidential office has acknowledged U.S. pressure but pledged to minimize concessions in order to protect national industries — though this assurance has done little to alleviate the concerns of the agricultural sector. More troubling is tha
