South Korea holds 'shipbuilding card' in US tariff negotiations

9/4/2025 12:31

South Korea's trade and industry minister Ahn Duk-geun said on Wednesday that potential cooperation with Washington in the shipbuilding sector is a "very important card" in negotiating with the U.S. over its tariffs.



U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to South Korean interim leader Han Duck-soo late on Tuesday to discuss shipbuilding and potential energy deals in what Trump labelled a "great call", a day before a 25% tariff on its Asian ally is due to kick in.



Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Ahn told parliament, citing Trump's call with Han, "Since President Trump and the Trump administration are showing great interest in shipbuilding cooperation, we believe that the shipbuilding sector will be a very important negotiating card for us."



U.S.-ally South Korea is a major global player in the shipbuilding industry and Trump has previously cited concern over how his country has fallen behind in a sector that is also dominated by China.



Ahn warned, however, that U.S. tariffs were expected to have a "very negative" impact on South Korean exports such as automobiles, reiterating that the government would focus on negotiating with Washington.