SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - A dispute over U.S. access to South Korea’s rice market is casting a shadow over a planned summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, raising concerns that economic friction could spill into broader diplomatic discussions.
American officials have claimed that South Korea agreed to open its rice market to U.S. imports as part of recent trade negotiations.
But South Korean officials, including President Lee’s office and senior government officials, have denied any such agreement, calling the statements out of Washington "politically motivated."
“There has been no discussion whatsoever regarding rice market access,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol on Aug. 2, after returning from trade talks in the United States.
Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Koo dismissed comments by a White House spokesperson who had mentioned rice in the context of the agreement.
“Rice was not on the table,” he said, emphasizing during a separate briefing at the South Korean Embassy in Washington that “the U.S. side recognized the sensitivity of agricultural issues in Korea, and we reached a consensus that there would be no further market opening.”
The dispute intensified following remarks from Trump, who said South Korea had agreed to accept more American products, including agricultural goods.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt echoed that statement, describing the deal as providing “historic market access for U.S. rice in Korea.”
South Korean officials have pushed back, attributing the U.S. remarks to domestic political strategy, noting that American farmers remain a crucial part of Trump’s support base.
“We believe this is political rhetoric,” said Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong.
She added that under the existing Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, “99.7 percent of agricultural products are already open,” leaving little room for further concessions.
The conflicting narratives come at a delicate time, with both governments signaling that a bilateral summit between Lee and Trump could take place in Washington within the next two weeks.
Observers warn that if the rice issue surfaces during the talks, it could strain discussions not only on trade but also on broader areas such as security cooperation and regional diplomacy.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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