Andeokgeun Meets 'Trump 2nd Term' Cabinet, Requests 'Korean Tariff Exemption'

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Anduk Geun had the first meeting with the second Trump administration cabinet and requested tariff exemptions for Korea.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 1st that Minister Ahn visited Washington D.C., USA from the 26th to the 28th (local time) and met with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Doug Burgum, Chairman of the White House National Energy Council and Secretary of the Interior, and Ambassador Jamison Greer of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Taking advantage of the meeting, Minister Ahn conveyed Korea's position on the U.S. tariff measures plan and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Anduk Geun (left) is taking a commemorative photo with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick after a meeting in the Commerce Department conference room in Washington D.C., USA, on the 27th (local time).

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Minister Ahn also discussed ways to strengthen Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation with Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. He discussed Korea's effective response direction to U.S. trade issues with Kevin Roberts, Chairman of the Heritage Foundation, John Hamre, Chairman of CSIS, and Adam Posen, President of PIIE, and asked them to act as a bridge for cooperation between the Korean and U.S. governments.

With Secretary of Commerce Lutnick, they discussed strengthening partnerships in strategic industries such as shipbuilding and advanced industries. In particular, he conveyed the concerns of Korean companies regarding the U.S. government's tariff measures plan and requested tariff exemptions. A Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official said, "On this occasion, both sides agreed to establish a working-level consultative body for discussions related to tariff measures and a working-level consultative body to strengthen Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation," adding, "The government plans to proceed with related consultations with the U.S. side through the working-level consultative body in a way that maximally reflects the interests of our companies."

In addition, Chairman Doug Burgum of the White House National Energy Council and Secretary of the Interior and Ambassador Jamison Greer of USTR respectively discussed ways to strengthen mutually beneficial Korea-U.S. energy and trade cooperation.

Minister Ahn said, "Through this visit to the U.S., we laid the foundation for strengthening cooperation with the new U.S. government cabinet," and added, "Based on the successful experience of responding to the Semiconductor Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the past, we will respond to the U.S. industrial, trade, and energy policies that are being announced one after another through systematic and sincere consultations to achieve the best results."

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