0
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during an on-site meeting on the automotive industry at Kia Autoland Gwangju on April 15. / Source: Yonhap News

South Korea is gearing up for high-stakes negotiations with the United States over tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, with Acting President Han Duck-soo signaling the possibility of direct talks with Trump himself. The move marks the beginning of what Seoul is calling a critical "time for negotiation" in response to the escalating tariff war.

According to government officials on April 15, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun is expected to visit Washington, D.C. as early as next week to meet with top U.S. officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The talks aim to adjust tariffs and defuse growing trade tensions.

The Korean government is preparing a strategy centered on reducing tariffs by highlighting efforts to increase imports of U.S. goods—such as energy products—and to address what the Trump administration refers to as "non-tariff barriers." Seoul plans to take a pragmatic, interest-based approach in response to Trump's "America First" push.

A key component of Seoul’s strategy involves offering concrete data to counter U.S. claims of trade imbalances. The government is also considering increasing purchases of U.S. natural gas, crude oil, and agricultural products, while expanding local U.S. production of key Korean exports like automobiles and semiconductors. These measures are aimed at delivering visible improvements in the U.S. trade deficit during Trump’s presidency.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok emphasized the urgency of defusing trade tensions during a parliamentary session on April 15. “Our top priority is to delay reciprocal tariffs through negotiations and reduce uncertainties for Korean companies operating globally,” Choi said. “We will negotiate based on national interest, and any unresolved issues can be handled by the incoming administration.”

When asked about the possibility of Han traveling to the U.S. to negotiate directly with Trump, Choi responded, “That possibility shouldn't be ruled out,” though he stressed that “for now, ministerial-level talks and working-level discussions are the priority.”

Han is currently leading trade coordination through the Economic Security Strategy Task Force, which serves as the government's control tower for negotiations with the U.S. At a recent task force meeting, Han stated, “If necessary, I will engage with President Trump directly to find a resolution.”

Trump previously announced on April 9 that South Korea would receive a 90-day tariff deferral, during which only a baseline 10% tariff would be applied while negotiations proceed. With broader issues such as U.S. troop cost-sharing in South Korea potentially entering the dialogue, the upcoming talks may expand into multifaceted negotiations beyond tariffs.