Overview

• Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and top executives including Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong are in Washington for final negotiations and an imminent meeting with President Trump to avert 25% reciprocal tariffs due August 1.
• Negotiations span semiconductors, electric-vehicle batteries and biotechnology as Seoul offers investment guarantees and technology partnerships.
• The proposed Make American Shipbuilding Great Again initiative outlines multibillion-dollar South Korean investments to help revitalize U.S. shipyards against rising Chinese competition.
• Officials have signaled readiness to grant U.S. agricultural and livestock market access, reflecting a politically sensitive concession to secure trade relief.
• Agreements by Japan and the EU capping U.S. tariffs at 15% have raised stakes for South Korea to obtain comparable terms in the final deal.