South Korea has requested an exemption from the U.S.'s new tariff plans, the Industry Ministry said Saturday.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, set to take effect on March 12. During a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun expressed concerns over the tariffs and urged for an exemption, Yonhap News Agency reported.
“South Korea will work to earn the best results from systematic and earnest negotiations with the US on new industry, trade and energy policies based on our experience of successfully responding to the US CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act in the past," Ahn said in a press release, according to the news outlet.
They also discussed strengthening ties in shipbuilding and advanced industries. The U.S. remains a key trade partner for South Korea, which had a $66 billion trade surplus with Washington last year.
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