**”Tales from the ROK-US Tariff Negotiations at the Ministerial Workshop”**
**”I Really Thought I Was Just a Bag of Rice… I Kept Silent to Avoid Negative Impact”**
**”Amid Difficult Circumstances, I Became Anxious… I Realized We Need to Strengthen Our National Power”**
On the 31st, President Lee Jae-myung shared the pressure he felt during the tariff negotiations with the United States, saying, “Like a duck which appears graceful above water but is paddling furiously below to avoid being swept away.”
At a high-ranking officials’ workshop titled “The Path of Public Servants in the Era of National Sovereignty,” held at the Government Complex in Seoul, President Lee gave a special lecture. He expressed his concern, “I am afraid of how many people will be affected by my judgments and decisions,” adding, “It was an extremely difficult environment. I realized we need to grow this nation’s strength.”
Reflecting on the negotiation results, he stated, “While it’s not completely satisfactory amid difficulties, we have achieved significant outcomes. I sincerely thank all of you for your hard work.” He commended the negotiation team, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol, who negotiated with President Donald Trump, saying, “Everyone from ministers to those in frontline departments worked hard for the ROK-US trade agreement until late into the night.”
Regarding some opposition parties’ claims that he did not take a frontline role in the negotiations, he joked, “I didn’t say anything because of the pressure, so they truly thought I was just a ‘bag of rice,'” explaining, “I stayed silent because speaking might have had a negative impact.”
He continued, “Even while staying silent, close aides know how much we’ve been on edge and what actions we’ve taken to prevent getting swept away.”
President Lee also mentioned, “(Tariff negotiations) are matters concerning overseas markets for companies, but they can also be burdens on Korean citizens, and every decision has a significant impact,” revealing the pressure he felt during the negotiations.
Earlier that morning, Korea and the United States dramatically concluded the mutual tariff negotiations just one day before the deadline. The US planned to impose a 25% reciprocal tariff on Korea starting August 1st but agreed to reduce it to 15% after Korea promised an investment of hundreds of trillions of won. The 15% is the same level at which the US agreed with Japan and the European Union (EU).
President Trump, through his social media, stated, “Under this agreement, Korea will invest $350 billion in places owned and controlled by the US, and personally selected by me as President,” adding, “Korea has agreed to purchase $100 billion worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) or other energy products.”
He also stated, “Korea has agreed to fully open its trade with the US, accepting American-made cars, trucks, and agricultural products,” and added, “We have agreed to a 15% tariff on Korea, while the US will not face tariffs.”
It was reported that when meeting with the Korean negotiating team, President Trump requested speedy investments in shipbuilding and expressed a desire to meet President Lee soon.