South Korea’s industry minister will travel to Washington on Thursday for high-stakes talks after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on South Korean goods, escalating trade tensions between the two allies.
The visit comes days after Trump said he intends to increase tariffs from 15% to 25%, citing Seoul’s failure to pass legislation tied to last year’s bilateral trade agreement. The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy confirmed the trip in a statement.
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan is scheduled to meet U.S. Commerce Secretary and Energy Secretary officials as Seoul moves quickly to contain the dispute and prevent further economic fallout.
According to the ministry, Kim’s visit is part of a broader diplomatic effort to stabilize trade relations following Trump’s warning earlier this week. In a social media post on Monday, Trump said the tariff hike would proceed because South Korea had not fulfilled legislative commitments connected to the 2024 trade deal.
A day later, Trump struck a softer tone, telling reporters, “We’ll work something out with South Korea,” though he offered no specific details on next steps.
The disagreement stems from a deal last year in which Washington lowered tariffs on South Korean goods to 15% in exchange for Seoul’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy and expand access to South Korean markets.
Read Also: White House Sets 25% Duty Rate On South Korea Imports
U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer said the tariff reduction was conditional on South Korea passing specific legislation tied to the agreement — bills that have yet to be approved by parliament.
South Korean lawmakers have said they expect the required legislation to pass in February, when the National Assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary session.
South Korean officials say they have activated multiple diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo is also expected to travel to Washington for separate talks with Greer, according to government sources.
The rapid succession of visits reflects growing concern in Seoul that a tariff increase could disrupt key export sectors, including automobiles, electronics, and industrial manufacturing — industries that form the backbone of South Korea’s economy.
Read Also: South Korea’s Ex-First Lady Jailed For Bribery
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have maintained that the tariff threat is tied strictly to compliance with the existing agreement rather than a broader shift in trade policy.
With negotiations now moving directly to Washington, both governments appear focused on preventing a trade confrontation between two major strategic partners.