South Korea officials, business leaders join last-ditch push for US trade deal

30/7/2025 18:10

Three cabinet-level South Korean officials met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington for trade talks, Seoul said on Wednesday, as top business leaders were also reported to be flying in to help lobby for a deal on U.S. tariffs.



South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol joined Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo, who have been in Washington since last week, for two hours of talks with Lutnick, a ministry spokesperson said in Seoul.



The finance ministry spokesperson did not offer details of the discussions. U.S. President Donald Trump has set an August 1 deadline for 25% tariffs to kick in against South Korea, a major U.S. ally and powerhouse exporter of chips, cars and steel.



The South Korean government is negotiating with the U.S. by "setting up a package that focuses on areas where South Korea and the U.S. can achieve mutually beneficial results to the extent that we can bear them," the presidential office said in a statement.



South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told his ministers to "engage in the difficult consultation with confidence" as he was briefed on the status of the talks on Wednesday, his office said.