Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
Korea's top economic officials head to US for tariff discussions
Economy and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok answers questions from lawmakers during an impeachment investigation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea, US to launch high-level trade talks on tariff relief
Korea will send its top economic and trade officials to Washington next week for high-level talks with the United States aimed at reducing tariffs, marking the start of formal negotiations under the U.S. Donald Trump administration’s revamped trade strategy.
Economy and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is scheduled to attend the Group of 20 finance ministers’ meeting and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual gathering in Washington next week. During his trip, he plans to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss trade issues, including the recent 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs on key allies.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday that the U.S. Treasury had proposed holding a meeting with Choi during his trip to Washington for the G20 and IMF gatherings. While such meetings are typically centered on monetary and currency issues, trade is also expected to be on the agenda, reflecting its growing prominence in bilateral discussions.
Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun is also planning to visit Washington, where meetings are being arranged with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Depending on how the talks progress, the two governments may also consider convening a joint session that brings together finance and trade officials from both sides.
The talks follow the Trump administration’s deferral of reciprocal tariffs on Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and India — an early indication of its intent to accelerate trade negotiations with key partners. Seoul is seeking to secure an early deal that lowers tariff barriers and addresses broader trade imbalances.
Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun answers a question from a lawmaker during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
According to government officials, the Korean delegation will present a comprehensive proposal that includes sector-specific tariff relief for automobiles, steel and semiconductors. The plan also outlines increased purchases of U.S. energy, agricultural and defense products, along with expanded local production of Korean exports in the U.S.
Korea will also highlight its efforts to reduce non-tariff barriers, which Washington has long cited as a source of friction. In addition, Korean officials are preparing to respond to the potential inclusion of defense cost-sharing in the broader negotiation framework.
Trump has recently tied tariff relief to Korean cooperation in areas such as shipbuilding and participation in the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline project. While these issues are not part of the formal trade mandate, they are seen as possible bargaining chips.
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Choi emphasized that negotiations will be guided by national interest.
“We will advance the talks as far as possible under the current administration,” he said. “But some long-term decisions may be more appropriately handled by the next government following the June 3 presidential election.”