SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Senior government and trade officials headed back to Washington again on Wednesday, seeking to finalize prolonged tariff negotiations with the U.S.
Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan and presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom, who returned from their U.S. trip earlier this week, are expected to meet their counterparts there for follow-up discussions, raising hopes that a breakthrough in the talks could be imminent.
The two have already hinted that "progress" has been made on most issues, though some areas still require further adjustments.
With U.S. President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the country's historic city of Gyeongju next week, expectations are building that the two countries could finally resolve several contentious issues including how to fund a US$350 billion investment in the U.S., part of the deal reached last July to lower reciprocal tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent.
Some also speculate that revisions to the bilateral nuclear agreement, which currently prevents Seoul from reprocessing its spent nuclear fuel, could be made in response to North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal, while others suggest the possible opening of South Korea's agricultural market instead amid U.S. demands for increased imports of soybeans, following China's recent suspension.
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