South Korean acting president: Trump directs immediate tariff negotiations with key allies

South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo has announced that US President Donald Trump "apparently" instructed his administration to launch immediate tariff negotiations with South Korea, Japan, and India, following a recent phone call between the two leaders. 

Speaking during a high-level meeting with senior government officials and business executives, Han said the conversation centered on the implementation of US reciprocal tariffs and upcoming areas of negotiation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"We discussed what we are going to do regarding the implementation of the U.S.' reciprocal tariffs and which subjects South Korea and the U.S. will hold negotiations on," Han said. "President Trump was very satisfied and apparently gave instructions [to his aides] to hold immediate negotiations with South Korea, Japan and India," he added.

Although Han did not provide a direct source for Trump’s instruction, his remarks came a day after Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Trump "obviously prioritizes two of our closest allies and trading partners, Japan and Korea," for tariff negotiations. 

The US president subsequently announced a 90-day delay in the implementation of the new tariffs, including a 25 per cent duty that would affect South Korean exports. Han also revealed that South Korea and the US are preparing to set up a comprehensive negotiation framework and are likely to begin talks soon. 

One of the focal points will be energy collaboration, particularly a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska. "It appears South Korea and the U.S. will establish a negotiation system for all sectors and begin negotiations at an early date to produce detailed measures," Han said. "I believe President Trump agreed with our determination to faithfully conduct win-win negotiations."

A videoconference on the LNG project is expected in the coming days.

During a phone talk on April 8, South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo and US President Donald Trump discussed the issue of the bilateral trade balance. Commenting on the discussion, Trump noted that they had addressed a "massive, unsustainable surplus." In 2024, South Korea's exports to the US exceeded imports by $55.7 billion, highlighting the imbalance in trade relations between the two nations.

On the same day, Han Duck-soo gave an interview, where he emphasised South Korea's desire to engage in a "calm dialogue" with the US on tariffs. He reassured that South Korea had no intention of imposing retaliatory tariffs on American goods, signaling a more diplomatic approach to resolving trade differences. 

This conversation followed President Trump's announcement on April 2 that customs tariffs would be imposed on goods from 185 countries and territories. However, on April 9, Trump revealed that he would delay the planned tariff increases for 75 countries, including South Korea, for 90 days. During this period, these countries will face a 10 per cent import tariff while continuing negotiations on trade issues.

By Naila Huseynova