South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok commenced his trip to the US to engage in discussions with officials from Washington, potentially including Vice President JD Vance, as Seoul endeavors to navigate various trade matters, such as expected tariffs on US semiconductors.
Kim arrived at Dulles International Airport near the capital of the US in the morning, signifying his initial journey abroad as prime minister and the first independent visit to the US by a South Korean leader since the democratization of the Asian nation in the late 1980s.
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Kim intends to have meetings with government officials, lawmakers, and Korean residents during his five-day visit, which will also include a trip to New York. There have been discussions to schedule a meeting with Vance.
Following remarks from the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the possibility of imposing new tariffs on memory chipmakers unless they enhance their production capabilities in the United States, tensions have risen within South Korean companies, prompting his visit.
An official from the US has informed Yonhap News Agency that the Trump administration is planning to pursue distinct agreements regarding semiconductor tariffs with each specific country.
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In discussions with American officials, the prime minister may also address the enforcement of a mutually beneficial trade and investment agreement, initiating a commitment from Seoul to invest $350 billion in the US in exchange for reciprocal tariff reductions on Korean imports to 15 percent from 25 percent.
Earlier, Kim discussed South Korea's free trade agreements with nations like China, India, and Vietnam, highlighting that negotiations for FTAs are ongoing with additional Asian countries.
He mentioned that discussions are in progress to recommence negotiations for a trilateral FTA comprising South Korea, China, and Japan, as Seoul evaluates the possibility of participating in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
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The gathering ensued approximately one month following Lee's trip to Tokyo, where he proposed the idea of convening their subsequent meeting in South Korea, but not in Seoul. During their third summit meeting, Lee conveyed optimism about the potential for collaboration between the two neighboring Asian countries in addressing common societal issues like excessive focus on the capital region.
He suggested that the leaders of these nations engage in regular meetings to facilitate effective "shuttle diplomacy." Looking ahead to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit taking place in Gyeongju on October 31 and November 1, the prime minister revealed South Korea's intention to showcase its vision for artificial intelligence (AI) to harness cutting-edge technologies in advancing global innovation and economic growth.