Tariff negotiations between South Korea and the United States are set to resume on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, as Seoul pushes for a breakthrough amid heightened trade tensions.
South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun is expected to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during the ministerial meetings in Jeju, officials confirmed Friday.
The talks come amid rising concerns over proposed U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods, part of a broader protectionist trade stance championed by President Donald Trump.
Greer, who has been engaging in intensive bilateral discussions during the summit, also held talks with Chinese counterpart Li Chenggang earlier in the week.
The meeting followed a 90-day tariff truce agreed upon by Washington and Beijing in Geneva, signaling an effort to stabilize global trade relations.
South Korea, which recorded a $66 billion trade surplus with the U.S. last year, remains a key focus of Washington’s tariff agenda.
The Trump administration’s proposed 25 percent levy on South Korean auto exports, announced in April, has been a particular source of friction.
Automobiles account for more than a quarter of Seoul’s exports to the U.S.
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In response, South Korea is proposing a “July Package” aimed at easing trade tensions. The proposal includes plans to increase imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas and expand cooperation in the shipbuilding industry.
In a related development, Greer met with Chung Ki-sun, vice chairman of HD Hyundai, South Korea’s largest shipbuilder.
The meeting — the first of its kind between a U.S. trade chief and a South Korean shipbuilding executive — explored potential collaboration with U.S. defense contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries, according to company officials.
Greer is also scheduled to meet with the leadership of Hanwha Ocean, a key supplier for U.S. Navy vessels.
News of the meetings sent shares of HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean climbing nearly 3 percent in Friday morning trading.
U.S. tariffs on South Korean exports remain suspended until July, offering a narrow window for negotiators to reach an agreement.
With global supply chains still strained and market volatility persisting, the outcome of the APEC summit could prove critical for the direction of U.S.-Asia trade relations.