On Wednesday, President Donald Trump claimed he could significantly boost coal exports through tariff negotiations with countries like South Korea during a coal promotion event.
At the White House event in Washington, D.C., Trump declared that under his leadership, it is becoming a major energy exporter. In just the past few months, they’ve secured historic trade deals to dramatically increase coal exports to Japan, South Korea, India, and other nations.
He added that it is now exporting coal worldwide. Trump is no coal expert, but he’s told its coal quality is second to none globally.
This is the first time Trump has mentioned coal in connection with trade agreements with South Korea.
While a joint fact sheet released last November mentioned energy as a target for South Korean investment in the U.S. and aimed to boost American exports to South Korea, it didn’t specifically address increased coal purchases by South Korea.
During the event, Trump also boasted that the U.S. is the world’s top energy producer, and it’ll soon be twice as big as the runner-up.
He continued that he’s instructed the Department of Energy to maintain and fund coal-fired power plants in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kentucky. In just one year of my administration, they’ve approved over 70 coal mining permits.
Trump also announced plans to sign an executive order directing the Department of Defense to collaborate with coal-fired power plants on new power purchase agreements.
In a separate remark, Trump stated that tariffs are one of his favorite words, claiming his tariff policies have significantly reduced the trade deficit and predicting a surplus next year.
He mentioned that they’re awaiting a crucial Supreme Court ruling, highlighting the importance of the final decision on the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).