Acting President of South Korea Calls for Unified Response to 'America First' Policy
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Synopsis
Acting President Choi Sang-mok urges collaboration among government, National Assembly, and private sector to address the challenges posed by the 'America First' policy in a shifting international landscape.
Key Takeaways
- Choi Sang-mok emphasizes the need for unity.
- Calls for collaboration to face US tariffs.
- Bipartisan cooperation on urgent issues is essential.
- Positive discussions on tariff measures were announced.
- Formation of a consultative body with the US is underway.
Sejong, March 4 (NationPress) The acting President of South Korea, Choi Sang-mok, emphasized the necessity for unified efforts among the government, the National Assembly, and the private sector to effectively tackle the changing global environment influenced by the 'America First' policy.
Choi expressed during a Cabinet meeting, "In today's world, I have come to realize the severe international order, where there are no permanent allies or enemies." He highlighted that unity is crucial for the survival and prosperity of South Korea.
These statements came in light of US President Donald Trump's recent decision to halt military assistance to Ukraine after a contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump also announced a plan to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico as part of his 'reciprocal' tariff strategy, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Choi remarked, "We must confront the reality that depending solely on the goodwill of major powers and allies will not sufficiently safeguard our national security, industries, or technologies."
He underlined the need for the government, the National Assembly, and the private sector to collaborate in effectively addressing the ongoing trade conflict initiated by US tariff policies.
Additionally, he urged for bipartisan cooperation on pressing matters, such as pension reform and legislation to exempt semiconductor workers from the country’s 52-hour workweek regulation.
In a positive turn, Choi announced that Seoul and Washington have reached an agreement to form a working-level consultative group aimed at discussing tariff policies and boosting cooperation across various sectors, including shipbuilding.
Choi referenced his recent video conference with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and a meeting last week between visiting Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington.
