President Donald Trump is set to embark on a tour of Asian countries starting October 24, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. A senior U.S. official has revealed that while Trump is eager to reach a swift agreement on follow-up tariff negotiations with South Korea, his current itinerary does not include a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
During a pre-trip telephone briefing, a high-ranking Trump administration official stated that the President has expressed interest in meeting with Kim, but such a meeting is not part of this trip’s schedule.
However, the official left room for potential changes, adding that of course, alterations to the schedule are possible.
Trump is scheduled to depart the White House around 11:00 p.m. for an Asian tour that will conclude on October 30. His itinerary begins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (November 26-27), followed by visits to Japan (November 27-29) and South Korea (November 29-30).
On the first day of his South Korean visit, Trump will hold talks with President Lee Jae Myung. The following day, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speculation has arisen about the possibility of Trump meeting with Kim at the Korean Demilitarized Zone during this period.
Addressing the ongoing tariff negotiations between South Korea and the U.S., which have encountered differences over a 350 billion USD investment plan, the senior official emphasized that they are very eager to finalize an investment agreement with South Korea as soon as possible.
When questioned about a potential separate 150 billion USD investment in shipbuilding from the 350 billion USD total, the official responded that they anticipate more outcomes from the ongoing trade and investment agreements, adding thait it hopes to announce further details in the near future.
The official underscored Trump’s commitment to revitalizing the shipbuilding industry, stating that President Trump is deeply committed to rebuilding the shipbuilding sector and is exploring ways to learn from previous generations. He noted that it welcomes expertise and capital investment not only from South Korea but also from Japan, highlighting the desire for comprehensive cooperation to bolster U.S. manufacturing, defense industries, and shipbuilding, including submarine construction.
On July 30, South Korea announced a verbal agreement on a trade deal with the U.S., pledging to invest 150 billion USD of the 350 billion USD total into the Make America Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project. Recently, South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Koo Yun-cheol confirmed during his U.S. visit that discussions regarding South Korea’s specialized investment proposal for MASGA are ongoing.
The senior U.S. official clarified that most discussions concerning the investment agreement with South Korea primarily involve investments and purchases handled by the Department of Commerce. He stated that these matters are more closely related to the Department of Commerce than to trade, emphasizing the desire to finalize the agreement promptly, provided South Korea is prepared to fulfill the appropriate commitments.
The U.S.-China summit between Trump and President Xi, scheduled for the final day of the trip in Gyeongju, South Korea, aims to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the intense trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
The official asserted that President Trump’s visit to Asia, one of the world’s most economically dynamic regions, will yield tangible results for the American people through the signing of a series of economic agreements.
Regarding potential discussions on the Taiwan issue, the official remarked that it’s impossible to predict exactly what the leaders will discuss, adding that while it can’t anticipate what proposals China may present at the meeting, President Trump’s primary focus is on trade and economic matters.
