South Korea trade minister to leave for U.S. on Friday as tariff deadline looms

Seoul (Reuters) -Oouth Korea’s Trade Minister Yeo Han -Coo will go to the United States on Friday for tariff negotiations just a few days before the date of July 9, when US tariffs can rise sharply.

Yeo said he would consider demanding an extension of mutual tariff pause, depending on the progress of US negotiations.

South Korea, US President Donald Trump’s punishment tariffs on the importation of automobiles and steel products and currently paused for negotiations, the Asian ally, a 25% “mutual” taxes sought exemption from tax.

Washington demands better access to agricultural and automobile sectors and developed market access and non -discriminatory treatment in the digital sector, Yeo said in a statement on Friday.

“The government will respond flexible, taking into account the level of US demands and internal political security sensitivities,” he said.

South Korea’s last date of July 9, asking whether YEO, the essence of negotiations is more important than the deadline, he said.

Yeo said he would ask the US to take time to reach a “win-win” agreement and to accelerate the negotiations.

(By Hyunjoo Jin and Ju-Din Parkeding by Ed Davies)