S. Korea, US wrap up 'technical' discussions ahead of full-fledged trade talks

Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, third from right, is present in a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative(USTR) Jamieson Greer, second from left, for "two-plus-two" trade consultations at the USTR office in Washington, D.C. on April 24. Yonhap

South Korea and the United States concluded two-day working-level "technical" discussions in Washington on Thursday to set the contours of their full-fledged talks over trade and economic cooperation issues, a source said, as Seoul is seeking exemptions from new U.S. tariffs.

Chang Sung-gil, director-general for trade policy at the industry ministry, led the South Korean delegation to engage in discussions with officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

The details of their discussions remain unknown, but the source described the talks as focusing on setting overall contours of the trade talks that will proceed in earnest down the road.

The talks came after then Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun met U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer for "two-plus-two" trade consultations on April 24.

During the high-level talks, the two sides agreed to seek a "July package" agreement on trade and other related issues before July 8, when President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends. They also decided to focus their discussions on four categories -- tariff and non-tariff measures; economic security; investment cooperation; and currency policy.

The Trump administration started imposing reciprocal tariffs, including 25 duties on South Korea, on April 9, only to place a pause on them shortly afterward to allow for negotiations.

On Wednesday, Greer said in a Fox News interview that South Korea is "very forward-leaning" and going "in the right direction" as he commented on trade talks with the Asian ally.