Trump: "Trade Talks with China in the Final Stage"... When Will It Be South Korea's Turn?

"Tariffs Imposed on Most Other Countries in the World"

Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced on the 23rd (local time) that he is finalizing trade negotiations with China.

According to Reuters, Trump stated at an artificial intelligence (AI) event held in Washington that day, "Tariffs will be imposed on most of the rest of the world," making this remark.

He added, "We are currently engaged in serious trade negotiations with the European Union (EU)," and stated, "If the EU opens up to American companies, tariffs will be reduced."

Previously, President Trump announced the day before that trade negotiations with Japan had been completed. On that day, via his social media, Truth Social, he said, "We have just finalized a major agreement with Japan. It may be the largest deal of its kind so far."

President Trump explained that reciprocal tariffs between the United States and Japan are at 15%. This is 10 percentage points lower than the previously announced 25%.

Regarding the U.S.-Japan trade deal, President Trump warned, "Tariffs will only be reduced for countries that agree to open their markets; otherwise, much higher tariffs will be imposed."

On the 23rd (local time), in a post on his social media (SNS) Truth Social, he said, "If I can get major countries to open their markets to the United States, I will always concede on tariff rates," adding, "That (market opening) is another great power of tariffs," and claimed, "Without it, it's impossible to force countries to open up."

Trump's SNS message is seen as pressuring countries to eliminate non-tariff barriers and expand purchases of U.S. products, and it also applies to South Korea, which has not yet reached an agreement with the U.S.

Meanwhile, the South Korean government has dispatched high-level officials in the trade and industry sectors, such as Minister for Trade Han-Koo Yeo and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Jeong-Kwan Kim, to the United States this week to seek a trade agreement with the Trump administration in succession.

Eun-Ji Cha, Hankyung.com reporter chachacha@hankyung.com