 |
Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul, September 16, 2025 — A senior official at the Presidential Office emphasized on the 16th that South Korea will not agree to any U.S.-Korea tariff deal that could significantly harm Korean companies, even under deadline pressure.
Speaking to reporters in Yongsan, the official stated, “The President’s position is firm: the government will not force through an agreement that causes losses to our companies.”
Acknowledging the prolonged deadlock in tariff negotiations with the U.S., the official noted, “We have never experienced such long-stalled talks with a particular country, and it is proving very difficult. While we aim to reach an agreement as soon as possible, we cannot allow deadlines to dictate outcomes that severely damage our national interest.”
The official stressed that the “national interest” in this context directly relates to the profitability of Korean businesses: “When our companies invest in the U.S., they do so to make profits, not to give handouts. The government cannot force them to comply with U.S. demands at their own expense.” He added that President Lee Jae-myung remains resolute in protecting companies from such losses.
Highlighting the administration’s priorities, the official said, “The President devotes most of his energy to the economy and people’s livelihoods, followed by U.S.-Korea negotiations. Rest assured, these talks will continue to be approached with national interest at the core.”
President Lee reiterated this stance during his 100th-day press conference on September 11, declaring, “I will never make decisions that go against Korea’s national interest. Negotiations will take considerable time.” Responding to criticism that the latest U.S.-Korea summit produced no joint statement, he said, “We went to defend against unilateral U.S. tariff hikes. Why would we sign an agreement that brings us no benefit?”
As part of ongoing negotiations, Trade Minister Kim Jeong-gwan met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in New York on September 12. On the 16th, Vice Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo also arrived in Washington, D.C., where he is expected to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Upon arrival, Yeo told reporters, “The devil is in the details, and we are negotiating hard over the details.”
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
