U.S. and South Korea Gear Up for Trade Talks Next Week

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reached out to South Korea’s Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, inviting him to Washington next week to talk trade. South Korea’s finance ministry shared the news, saying the meeting will happen during the G20 finance ministers’ get-together at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings. The focus - Sorting out trade concerns as President Donald Trump pushes new tariffs.

Bessent, a major player in Trump’s economic plans, wants to give close allies like South Korea a chance to get ahead in trade negotiations. He’s hinted that jumping into talks early could mean better deals. The U.S. made the first move to set up this meeting, hoping to iron out tariff issues with a key partner. South Korea, a powerhouse in global exports and a longtime U.S. friend, is worried about how Trump’s tariffs might hit its economy and wants to keep things smooth.

Choi, who’s also stepping in as South Korea’s acting president, plans to shine a light on how much South Korea contributes to the U.S. think factories, tech, and jobs. The two recently chatted over a video call about tariffs, investments, and currency issues. South Korea’s leaders are nervous about U.S. tariffs, especially on things like steel, and they’ve asked for breaks before.

These talks come at a crucial time. Trump’s team is focused on leveling the playing field, eyeing countries like South Korea and Japan that sell more to the U.S. than they buy. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that the U.S. is looking at over 15 trade ideas, and some could wrap up soon.

This meeting matters a lot, it’s about keeping the U.S. and South Korea on the same page economically, even as global trade gets tricky. Both sides want to tackle tariff hurdles while staying strong partners.