Seoul: South Korea’s newly appointed Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo is scheduled to visit the United States from June 22 to 27 to engage in high-stakes negotiations aimed at reducing key tariffs impacting South Korean exports. The visit is seen as a critical step in resolving pressing trade issues and is expected to center around resuming formal talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The discussions come amid a challenging economic backdrop for South Korea, which experienced an unexpected contraction in the first quarter. Observers attribute part of the slowdown to U.S. tariffs and ongoing economic uncertainties following the political upheaval in Seoul last December. The bilateral discussions will mark the third round of technical talks, with both countries aiming to finalize agreements ahead of the July 8 deadline when temporary tariff suspensions are due to expire.

Central to the negotiations are two major tariff structures: a 10 percent sector-wide duty and a 25 percent country-specific tariff. Both were paused earlier this year for 90 days to allow room for diplomatic engagement and technical evaluations.

While expectations of a full bilateral summit were dampened by the absence of a complete U.S. Cabinet and broader foreign policy coordination, the upcoming meetings are designed to focus specifically on trade issues. South Korea recently launched a task force on June 16 to consolidate policy efforts across tariff, non-tariff, energy, and private-sector investment areas. Minister Yeo, during a press briefing on June 17, expressed optimism about building momentum and achieving tangible progress during his U.S. mission.

The talks are expected to also touch on expanding economic security cooperation, aligning investment strategies, and easing non-tariff trade barriers. However, broader issues such as defense cost-sharing and foreign exchange policies are not on the agenda during this visit.

As both nations gear up for the July 8 deadline, stakeholders in trade and industry are closely watching whether this round of discussions will lead to meaningful tariff relief and bolster South Korea’s economic recovery. The outcomes of these talks may also set the tone for future high-level engagements once the broader political landscape stabilizes in both countries.