On Monday, the Democratic Party of Korea proposed forming a bipartisan special committee to address the ‘tariff war’ initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The People Power Party responded ambivalently, claiming the announcement was made unilaterally and without prior consultation.
During the meeting of the National Assembly Supreme Council that morning, the Democratic Party leader, Lee Jae Myung, stated, “I propose to the People Power Party the establishment of a special trade committee within the National Assembly to be formed in a bipartisan manner,” further emphasizing, “In the face of a national crisis, the ruling and opposition parties cannot operate in isolation; we must unite our efforts.”
This proposal came after Trump implemented significant tariff increases over the weekend, targeting major countries, including Canada, Mexico, and China.
Through an executive order, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada (with 10% on energy products). A 10% tariff has been imposed on top of the current tariffs on Chinese products.
Lee remarked, “Global trade competition has begun faster than anticipated, and our companies have been directly impacted.”
He addressed the ruling party, stating, “We anticipate a progressive response,” and added, “The Democratic Party is committed to consistently generating new opportunities during challenging times.”
However, the People Power Party responded, “It is difficult to judge whether we should respond to every unilateral announcement.”
After the emergency response committee meeting in the morning, senior spokesperson Shin Dong Wook told reporters, “It is too absurd to keep throwing things out without any consultation and demand bipartisan cooperation and consultation.”
“If a special committee is to be formed, practical reviews and behind-the-scenes discussions are needed to determine whether both parties are aligned,” he added.
Nevertheless, Shin acknowledged the need for dialogue with the government, stating, “Given that the Trump administration has initiated a trade war, we recognize the necessity to consult with the government, including party-government discussions.”