Trump to meet South Korea trade delegation amid tariff showdown

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with South Korea’s trade delegation in Washington as Seoul races to negotiate a deal before 1 August’s 25 % tariffs on exports, according to South Korean officials.

South Korea’s trade and industry ministers, including Yeo Han‑koo and Kim Jung‑kwan, are in Washington for high‑level talks with U.S. officials like Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The goal is to avert the tax hikes that are set to kick in if no agreement is reached by the 1 August deadline.

The delegation’s visit comes after South Korea declined to open its sensitive beef and rice markets to meet U.S. demands, instead offering energy and shipbuilding cooperation as leverage. Officials said Seoul intends to present its best possible offer during negotiations.

Despite a cancelled meeting between Finance Minister Koo Yun‑cheol and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent due to scheduling issues, South Korea pressed ahead with key trade talks over the weekend. South Korea’s top officials, including Koo, have since joined the trade discussions to strengthen the case for a deal.

The stakes are high as the looming tariffs cover South Korea’s major exports, autos, steel, and semiconductors, and come as Japan finalises a landmark trade deal with the U.S., raising pressure on Seoul to quickly secure comparable terms.

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