Trump Initiates Urgent Tariff Talks with South Korea, India, and Japan: Acting President
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Synopsis
On April 14, Acting President Han Duck-soo revealed that President Trump has instructed his administration to engage in immediate tariff negotiations with South Korea, Japan, and India. The discussions stem from a recent phone call and aim to address reciprocal tariffs and economic cooperation.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump directed urgent tariff negotiations.
- Discussions involve South Korea, Japan, and India.
- Focus on reciprocal tariffs and economic collaboration.
- A negotiating team is expected to visit the U.S. soon.
- Plans for LNG project cooperation in Alaska are underway.
Seoul, April 14 (NationPress) Acting President Han Duck-soo stated on Monday that US President Donald Trump reportedly directed his administration to initiate immediate tariff discussions with South Korea, Japan, and India.
Han made this observation during a meeting with government officials and prominent business leaders, referencing Trump's actions following a phone conversation last week.
"We deliberated on the approach we will take concerning the enforcement of the United States' reciprocal tariffs, and the topics South Korea and the U.S. will negotiate on," the acting president noted, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.
"President Trump was quite pleased and reportedly instructed his aides to commence immediate discussions with South Korea, Japan, and India," he continued.
The basis for Han's statement was not entirely clear; however, on the same day that Han and Trump communicated via phone, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, mentioned on Fox News that Trump clearly prioritizes two of our closest allies and trading partners, Japan and Korea, in tariff negotiations.
The following day, Trump declared a 90-day delay in the implementation of the "reciprocal" tariffs, which includes a 25 percent tariff on South Korea.
"If needed, I will directly reach out to President Donald Trump and strive to find a solution," Han expressed, committing to advocate for a negotiating team led by Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun to visit the U.S. promptly.
"It seems South Korea and the U.S. will create a negotiation framework for all sectors and commence discussions soon to develop detailed plans," Han remarked, adding that he anticipates a videoconference "within the next day or two" concerning collaboration on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture in Alaska.
The LNG initiative was addressed during Han's phone conversation with Trump, after the U.S. president highlighted the interest of South Korea and other nations in collaborating with the U.S. to construct a pipeline from the North Slope, a known substantial reserve of natural gas, to southern Alaska for transporting cooled liquid natural gas to Asia.
"I believe President Trump concurred with our commitment to diligently pursue beneficial negotiations," Han informed the officials.
During the gathering, business leaders urged the government to negotiate tariff exemptions on equipment their companies transport to America as part of the process of establishing manufacturing facilities within the country.
Attending the meeting were senior executives, including Kim Won-kyong, president of Samsung Electronics, and Kim Dong-wook, vice president at Hyundai Motor.
