U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday held a high-level call with South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo, discussing tariffs, LNG imports, and a potential $44-billion energy deal — just a day before a 25% tariff on South Korean goods is due to take effect.
“We have the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries,” Trump wrote on social media, adding that South Korea’s top negotiating team was already en route to Washington.
The call came ahead of urgent talks between South Korea’s Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, aimed at addressing the widening trade gap and averting a tariff clash.
According to Yonhap, Han expressed hope to strengthen the alliance and cooperate on key sectors including LNG and shipbuilding. Trade Minister Cheong echoed this on Tuesday, saying Seoul was reviewing packages to increase U.S. imports — including liquefied natural gas — in a bid to resolve the imbalance. “It’s difficult to reduce exports,” he said. “So shouldn’t we then increase U.S. imports?”
Trump’s team has made clear that while negotiations with China remain uncertain, talks with allies like Japan and South Korea are a top priority. “We’ve received the instruction to prioritize our allies,” said economic adviser Kevin Hassett.
The energy angle is gaining traction. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump is personally involved in brokering a proposed project that would ship natural gas from Alaska to East Asia starting in 2030. “That could be an alternative for them to come forward with — it would provide a lot of American jobs and narrow the trade deficit,” Bessent said.
South Korea is considering joining the Alaska venture, alongside Japan and Taiwan, though questions remain about its feasibility.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested the negotiations could also touch on U.S. military presence and foreign aid. “The president’s approach will be tailor-made. That could include discussions of how troops are paid for,” she said.
Han told CNN that Seoul is keen to avoid any collective retaliation with countries like China or Japan, and prefers a bilateral solution.
Despite the diplomatic push, the U.S. has so far not offered exemptions. Greer told Congress on Tuesday that discussions could stretch into June, with over 70 countries seeking talks.
As the clock ticks toward tariff implementation, both sides appear eager to negotiate — but no deal has been reached yet.
Moldova's parliament voted on Thursday to set the date for parliamentary elections, which will take place on September 28.
Qatar’s Emir assured President Putin that Syria’s new leadership is committed to strengthening ties with Moscow, as the two leaders met in the Kremlin to discuss regional conflicts and diplomatic efforts in Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine.
Russia warned that German-supplied Taurus missiles targeting its infrastructure would amount to direct German involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
The IFRC has received only 10% of its $122 million emergency appeal for Myanmar’s earthquake recovery, raising alarm as thousands remain homeless and vulnerable ahead of monsoon season.
President Trump calls recent talks with Mexico and Japan "very productive" as he highlights growing international interest in meetings with the U.S.
Moldova's parliament voted on Thursday to set the date for parliamentary elections, which will take place on September 28.
Qatar’s Emir assured President Putin that Syria’s new leadership is committed to strengthening ties with Moscow, as the two leaders met in the Kremlin to discuss regional conflicts and diplomatic efforts in Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine.
Russia warned that German-supplied Taurus missiles targeting its infrastructure would amount to direct German involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
The IFRC has received only 10% of its $122 million emergency appeal for Myanmar’s earthquake recovery, raising alarm as thousands remain homeless and vulnerable ahead of monsoon season.
President Trump calls recent talks with Mexico and Japan "very productive" as he highlights growing international interest in meetings with the U.S.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims decreased by 9,000 last week, falling to 215,000, according to data from the US Labor Department released on Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to influence the yen's exchange rate in the ongoing trade negotiations with Japan is likely to create challenges for both nations, analysts warned.
Puerto Rico experienced its second full power outage in just four months on Wednesday, following a system failure that left most of the island without electricity.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stating on Thursday that Powell's termination "cannot come fast enough."
Moldova's parliament voted on Thursday to set the date for parliamentary elections, which will take place on September 28.
Moldova's parliament voted on Thursday to set the date for parliamentary elections, which will take place on September 28.
Qatar’s Emir assured President Putin that Syria’s new leadership is committed to strengthening ties with Moscow, as the two leaders met in the Kremlin to discuss regional conflicts and diplomatic efforts in Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine.
Russia warned that German-supplied Taurus missiles targeting its infrastructure would amount to direct German involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
The IFRC has received only 10% of its $122 million emergency appeal for Myanmar’s earthquake recovery, raising alarm as thousands remain homeless and vulnerable ahead of monsoon season.
President Trump calls recent talks with Mexico and Japan "very productive" as he highlights growing international interest in meetings with the U.S.
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