(Corrects spelling of trade minister’s name paragraph 7)
SEOUL, Jan 29 (Reuters) – South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will visit Washington on Thursday to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of plans to raise tariffs on South Korean goods, the ministry said.
Kim is also scheduled to meet the U.S. Secretaries of Commerce and Energy, according to a ministry press release.
Trump in a social media post on Monday said he would hike tariffs from 15% to 25% because Seoul had not enacted legislation linked to last year’s trade deal, prompting alarm in Seoul.
On Tuesday he signaled a softer tone, telling reporters, “we’ll work something out with South Korea,” without offering details.
Trump’s trade negotiator Jamieson Greer said the U.S. lowered tariffs to 15% last year in exchange for South Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the U.S. and expand market access, but that Seoul had yet to pass the required bills.
South Korean lawmakers expressed hope the bills would be approved in February, when they are expected to hold a plenary parliamentary session. Officials also stressed they have reached out to the U.S. through multiple channels to prevent further escalation.
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo is also expected to visit Washington for talks with Greer.
(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
