On Thursday, amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and South Korea following President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariff hikes, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Kim Jong Kwan, visited Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at the Department of Commerce.
As he entered the Commerce Department building, Kim briefly responded to reporters’ questions about his agenda, saying he would do his best.
When asked whether he expected negotiations to conclude that day, Kim replied cautiously that they would have to discuss it.
Kim’s U.S. visit was prompted by President Trump’s Monday announcement to raise tariffs on automobiles and reciprocal tariffs from 15% to 25%, citing delays in the South Korean National Assembly’s legislative process following the conclusion of the U.S.-Korea trade agreement.
After arriving late on January 28 from a trip to Canada, Kim has maintained a busy schedule in Washington.
Prior to his meeting with Secretary Lutnick, Kim met with Energy Secretary Chris Wright to discuss bilateral cooperation in the energy and resource sectors.
Kim is expected to depart on the morning of January 30, following his talks with Lutnick.
Following Kim’s visit, Yeo Han Ku, head of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, also departed for the U.S. from Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of Thursday, set to arrive late that night local time.
Yeo plans to meet with key U.S. officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to discuss tariff issues, the status of U.S. investments in South Korea, digital regulations, and other trade-related matters.
Just before departing from Incheon International Airport, Yeo told reporters that the U.S. side appeared to believe the terms of the U.S.-Korea agreement were not being implemented, based on what it had observed in South Korea’s legislative process. He added that they planned to assess the situation in the United States and explore various avenues to find reasonable solutions.