**”Trump’s Tariffs and Reduction of U.S. Troops May Complicate South Korea’s Approach to China”**
Reports from Washington suggest that the recent mass detention of Koreans at a battery plant construction site in Georgia has heightened concerns within South Korea regarding the current state of U.S.-South Korea relations. A congressional report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) indicated that despite the positive atmosphere during the first summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, there may still be challenges ahead for the bilateral relationship.
The report specifically noted that the operation by U.S. immigration authorities at Hyundai Motor’s Georgia manufacturing plant on September 4 has escalated concerns about the bilateral relationship in Korea. It also raised questions about whether U.S. immigration policy aligns with the goal of increasing American manufacturing jobs through foreign investment.
Concerns expressed in the U.S. Congress suggest that the detention of Korean workers by U.S. immigration authorities could lead to a deterioration in U.S.-Korea relations.
The CRS expressed concerns that the Trump administration’s trade and security policies could affect South Korea’s relationship with China. The report noted that Trump’s tariff measures are impacting Korea’s export-driven economy, and the possible partial redeployment of U.S. troops from South Korea to focus on China might complicate President Lee’s desire to avoid unnecessarily provoking China, as he suggested during his election campaign.
Additionally, the report noted that many Korean experts are worried that President Trump might bypass Seoul in the process of formulating North Korea policy.