SEOUL, Jan 29 (Reuters) – South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan arrived in Washington on Thursday and said he would meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to clarify Seoul’s position on a “delayed” Korea-U.S. trade deal, said Yonhap News Agency.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on South Korean goods, complaining that Seoul has not passed bills to enact the trade deal which was agreed to last December.
Speaking to reporters at Dulles airport, Kim said he understood Washington’s complaint was centered on delays in the South Korean parliament passing trade deal legislation.
“From what we hear, the United States is unhappy about the domestic legislative process,” Yonhap quoted Kim as saying.
South Korean lawmakers are scheduled to hold their first parliamentary session of the year in February to pass various bills, which include the trade deal.
Citing a phone call he had held with Lutnick after Trump’s tariff comments, Kim added he plans to “clearly explain there is no change in the South Korean government’s commitment to cooperation and investment with the United States.”
Kim is also scheduled to meet U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to a ministry press release.
Trump in a social media post on Monday said he would hike tariffs from 15% to 25% because Seoul had not enacted the legislation linked to the trade deal, prompting alarm in Seoul.
On Tuesday he signalled a softer tone, telling reporters, “we’ll work something out with South Korea,” without offering details.
Trump’s trade negotiator Jamieson Greer said the U.S. lowered tariffs to 15% last year in exchange for South Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the U.S. and expand market access, but that Seoul had yet to pass the required bills.
South Korean lawmakers expressed hope the bills would be approved in February, when they are expected to hold a plenary parliamentary session. Officials also stressed they have reached out to the U.S. through multiple channels to prevent further escalation.
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo is also scheduled to depart Seoul for Washington on Thursday evening for talks with Greer.
(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Michael Perry)
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