“The working-level trade consultations between the South Korean and U.S. governments, aimed at coordinating issues regarding the reciprocal tariffs pursued by the Donald Trump administration, began on the 20th (local time) in Washington D.C. for a three-day schedule. This comes 19 days after the first technical consultations, which were held from April 30 to May 1.
The South Korean delegation for the second round of technical consultations is composed of officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, led by chief representative Jang Sung-gil, as well as officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The U.S. delegation reportedly includes officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and other related departments.
This technical consultation is expected to be the last face-to-face meeting on tariffs and trade between the two countries before a new government is inaugurated following the June 3rd presidential election. Discussions are expected to focus on six areas agreed upon during the ministerial-level trade consultations held in Jeju on the 16th, namely balanced trade, non-tariff measures, economic security, digital trade, origin, and commercial considerations.
Attention is focused on what specific demands the U.S. might make regarding the reduction of non-tariff barriers and what stance our government will take concerning the negotiation timeline currently being considered. Our government has proposed that, considering the political schedule with the new government expected to take office, both countries coordinate their understanding by the expiration of the reciprocal tariff grace period on July 8 to create what is being called the ‘July package.’
Scott Besant, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated on the 18th that if countries do not negotiate in good faith with the U.S., the reciprocal tariff rates announced on April 2 will be applied as is, without reduction.
The primary goal of our government is to minimize the 25% reciprocal tariffs (comprising a basic 10% tariff plus a 15% differential tariff applied by country) and item-specific tariffs of 25% on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. It is anticipated that the delegation will persuade the U.S. by pledging to balance the trade deficit through increased imports of U.S. products and by accelerating U.S.-focused strategic industrial cooperation, especially in shipbuilding, which is of interest to the Trump administration.
In this consultation, the U.S. might present specific demands regarding the removal of non-tariff barriers that it has consistently advocated. The USTR, in its 2025 National Trade Estimate Report (NTE Report) on Korea released at the end of March, raised issues concerning regulations on beef imports under 30 months of age, legislative trends on regulating monopolies in online platforms, legislative trends on imposing network usage fees on foreign content providers, and ‘offset trade’ stipulations requiring technology transfers during large-scale arms imports.”