President Lee: "Tariff talks with the U.S. — why sign if it's not beneficial?"

President Lee Jae-myung on the 11th said, "(Regarding the follow-up tariff negotiations with the United States) I will never make a decision that runs counter to the national interest," and said, "We still need to negotiate for much longer."

The President referred to the progress of the follow-up tariff negotiations with the United States at a press conference marking his 100th day in office held at the State Guest House of the Blue House. The President emphasized, "I will not make any side agreements." He added, "I will not engage in any negotiations that depart from rationality and fairness."

The President said, "That's why it's really difficult," and asked, "(Will we) sign exactly the same (as) Japan (did)? There is no precise public information about what Japan did, so I cannot say." The President said, "The surface of the negotiations is rough, extreme, excessive, unreasonable, and irrational, but the final conclusion will be reasonable," and added, "We must make it so."

The President said, "Some people criticize, 'Others are signing, can't you?'" and said, "We went to defend against the U.S.'s unilateral tariff increases," and retorted, "If it's good, we should sign, but why would we sign something that's not in our interest?" He added, "At the very least, we should sign under reasonable (conditions)," adding, "Please don't criticize us for not signing."

Kim Hyung-gyu/Jeong Sang-won reporters khk@hankyung.com