Overview

• On Aug. 19, President Lee met leaders from Samsung, SK, LG, Hyundai, Hanwha, Korean Air, Doosan Enerbility and Celltrion who will accompany him to Washington.
• The first Lee–Trump summit is scheduled for Aug. 25 in Washington to strengthen the alliance and advance an economic security partnership centered on manufacturing.
• Reported terms include keeping U.S. tariffs on Korean goods at 15% in exchange for $350 billion in U.S. investments and $100 billion in energy purchases, with $150 billion directed to a shipbuilding initiative.
• Reuters reports there is no written agreement yet detailing how the investment fund would operate or whether defense cost-sharing will be included.
• Lee’s itinerary includes a two-day stop in Tokyo for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba before the Washington visit.