Seoul's top trade negotiator holds tariff talks with US counterparts in Washington

Korea's new trade minister, Yeo Han-koo, right, poses with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, left, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, D.C., Monday, in this photo provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Yonhap

Korea's new chief trade negotiator held tariff talks with his U.S. counterparts in Washington earlier this week to convey Seoul's position on U.S. tariff measures and discussed mutually beneficial avenues for trade cooperation, the trade ministry said Tuesday.

Yeo Han-koo, appointed as trade minister on June 10 under the new Lee Jae Myung administration, met with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday (local time), according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

It was Yeo's first official visit to the United States since taking office, and also the first of its kind ahead of a looming July 8 deadline for an envisioned "package" deal.

In May, Seoul and Washington agreed to focus their talks on four categories — tariff and non-tariff measures, economic security, investment cooperation and currency policies — and reach the agreement by the deadline, when the 90-day suspension of the Donald Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs will end. Korea is subject to a 25 percent levy on its shipments to the U.S. under the U.S. tariff scheme.

Earlier, Yeo said he would craft measures that can ensure a "win-win" agreement for both countries, noting the allies are expected to hold "intense" negotiations in the coming weeks.