SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - An emergency meeting was convened to discuss how to respond after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly threatened to raise tariffs again, Cheong Wa Dae said on Tuesday.
The meeting, chaired by presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom along with key officials from relevant ministries, comes after Trump posted on his own social media platform Truth Social that he would raise reciprocal tariffs from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing delays in their implementation.
"South Korea's Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States," Trump wrote, citing an agreement reached by the two countries in late October last year.
"Because the Korean Legislature hasn't enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%," he added.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, there was no prior notice or detailed explanation about that from the U.S.
Meanwhile, Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Jeong-gwan, who is currently in Canada, is expected to head to Washington, D.C., soon to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to figure out reasons behind Trump's remarks.
The meeting, chaired by presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom along with key officials from relevant ministries, comes after Trump posted on his own social media platform Truth Social that he would raise reciprocal tariffs from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing delays in their implementation.
"South Korea's Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States," Trump wrote, citing an agreement reached by the two countries in late October last year.
"Because the Korean Legislature hasn't enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%," he added.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, there was no prior notice or detailed explanation about that from the U.S.
Meanwhile, Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Jeong-gwan, who is currently in Canada, is expected to head to Washington, D.C., soon to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to figure out reasons behind Trump's remarks.
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