“The U.S.-Korea 2+2 trade talks are proceeding smoothly and faster than expected,” stated Scott Besant, the U.S. Treasury Secretary leading trade negotiations under the Trump administration. Besant mentioned this on the 24th local time at a U.S.-Norway summit held at the White House. In response to President Trump’s directive to “explain tariff negotiations with other countries,” he said, “Today we had a very successful bilateral meeting with Korea,” and added, “We are able to move faster than I anticipated.”
He also explained that starting as early as next week, they plan to enter working-level talks with Korea to reach mutual understanding and agreement. “The Koreans came early (to negotiate). They brought their best proposal, and we will see if they carry it out,” he added.
The specific technical conditions and agreements referred to by Secretary Besant have not been confirmed. On the morning of that day, Besant, along with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer, met with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Deok-geun for the “U.S.-Korea 2+2 trade talks.”