On the afternoon of July 29, President Lee Jae-myung received a comprehensive report on the current status of Korea-US trade negotiations and led a discussion about the country's future response strategies.

According to spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong, President Lee convened a meeting with key cabinet ministers and senior advisers to review the ongoing talks. During the briefing, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan and Trade Negotiation Head Yeo Han-gu—both currently abroad—personally updated the President on recent discussions with United States Secretary of Commerce Rutnik and United States Trade Representative Greer.

These briefings followed two rounds of Korea-US bilateral meetings held in Washington, D.C. and New York, where the two countries agreed to deepen discussions on a range of issues, including expanding cooperation within the shipbuilding sector.

Since the launch of the new administration in June, the Korean government has increased its engagement with the United States through participation in multilateral forums such as the G7 and NATO, as well as frequent high-level visits by trade officials. The pace of bilateral negotiations has intensified further following the recent appointments of ministers overseeing the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Looking ahead, Minister Kim Jeong-gwan and Trade Negotiator Yeo Han-gu plan to maintain their stays in the United States to continue their direct engagements with Secretary Rutnik and USTR Greer. Additionally, Vice Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and the Foreign Minister are scheduled to visit the United States this week, where they will meet with Secretary of the Treasury Besent and Secretary of State Rubio.

Spokesperson Kang emphasized, “The Office of the President is approaching these negotiations with a cool-headed and pragmatic mindset, fully considering a variety of scenarios,” reiterating the principle that “our national interest—particularly in regard to tariffs and other key issues—will remain the highest priority in talks with the United States.” The government reaffirmed its commitment to flexible and effective problem-solving amid a rapidly evolving diplomatic landscape.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Korea Policy Briefing