South Korea's leader says trade deal with US remains unclear ahead of
Trump's deadline
[July 03, 2025] By
KIM TONG-HYUNG and HYUNG-JIN KIM
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that
it remained unclear whether Seoul and Washington could conclude their
tariff negotiations by the deadline set by President Donald Trump for
next week, noting Thursday that both nations were still working to
clarify their positions and identify areas of agreement.
Speaking at his first news conference since taking office last month,
Lee also reiterated his intentions to improve badly frayed ties with
North Korea, though he acknowledged that mutual distrust between the
Koreas is too deep to heal anytime soon.
Trump’s tariff hikes and other “America First” policies are major
challenges for Lee's month-old government, as are North Korea's
advancing nuclear program and domestic economic woes. Lee, a liberal,
came to power after winning a snap presidential election caused by the
ouster of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated
imposition of martial law in December.
Lee calls tariff talks with US ‘clearly not easy’
Lee said the tariff negotiations with the U.S. have been “clearly not
easy” and stressed that the countries must reach mutually beneficial
outcomes.
“It’s difficult to say with certainty whether we will be able to reach a
conclusion by July 8. We are now doing our best,” Lee said. ”What we
need is a truly reciprocal outcome that benefits both sides and works
for everyone, but so far, both sides are still trying to define exactly
what they want.”
Trump’s 90-day pause in global reciprocal tariffs is set to expire on
July 9, potentially exposing South Korean products to 25% tax rates.
Washington has separately been seeking higher duties on specific
products such as automobiles and semiconductors, which are key exports
for South Korea’s trade-dependent economy. There are growing concerns in
Seoul that Trump may also demand a broader deal requiring South Korea to
pay significantly more for the 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in the
country to deter North Korean threats.
Lee has consistently urged patience on tariffs, arguing that rushing to
secure an early deal would not serve the national interest. His trade
minister, Yeo Han-koo, was reportedly arranging a visit to Washington
for possible meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
[to top of second column] |
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during a news
conference to mark his first 30 days in office at Yeongbingwan of
Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Kim Min-Hee/Pool
Photo via AP)
 Lee pushes to revive long-stalled
talks with North Korea
On North Korea, Lee said he would seek to restore long-dormant talks
with Pyongyang, whose expanding military cooperation with Russia
pose major security concerns to their neighbors.
“I think we should improve relations with North Korea based on a
reliable coordination and consultation between South Korea and the
U.S.,” Lee said. “But I expect that won’t be easy as mutual
antagonism and distrust are too serious.”
Lee previously faced criticism that he was tilting toward North
Korea and China and away from the U.S. and Japan. But during his
campaign, Lee promised to pursue pragmatic diplomacy, saying he
would bolster the alliance with the U.S. while also seeking to
repair ties with North Korea, China and Russia. Some critics say
it’s too difficult to satisfy all parties.
Lee added that he had proposed resuming more frequent summits with
Japan.
Lee's government has made proactive efforts to build trust with
North Korea, halting frontline anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts
and taking steps to ban activists from flying balloons carrying
propaganda leaflets across the border.
Trump has also expressed intent to resume diplomacy with North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Lee has said he would support Trump’s
push.
North Korea hasn’t publicly responded to the conciliatory gestures
by Trump and Lee. But officials said North Korean propaganda
broadcasts are no longer being heard in South Korean border towns.
North Korea has refused talks with the U.S. and South Korea since
earlier Trump-Kim nuclear talks collapsed in 2019. North Korea is
now working to expand relations with Russia, supplying troops and
weapons to support its war against Ukraine in return for economic
and military assistance.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
