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U.S. President Donald Trump. / Source: UPI–Yonhap News

U.S. President Donald Trump again claimed that South Korea agreed to make an “up front” $350 billion investment as part of a trade deal with Washington. Seoul says the agreement is still short of a final signing, with differences remaining over the scale and structure of any investment.

At a White House press conference on October 15, Trump cited the results of his tariff policy, saying, “Japan and Korea have both signed. Korea agreed to $350 billion up front, and Japan to $650 billion.” He made a similar remark on September 25: “We’re getting $350 billion from Korea. This is up front.”

South Korea reached a broad understanding with the United States in late July on a trade framework, but negotiations over the amount and method of investment have not concluded, delaying a final signature.

Japan’s agreed investment is widely understood to be around $550 billion, prompting suggestions that Trump may have confused the figure.

The remarks came as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule on reciprocal tariff measures, a backdrop in which Trump sought to underscore the economic and security rationale for his tariff agenda.