(2nd LD) Finance minister says will work to resolidify S. Korea-U.S. alliance

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 2 paras)

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said Tuesday that his upcoming trade talks with the Donald Trump administration will help pave the way for renewed discussions on strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Choi, who doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, made the remark as he headed to the United States for talks over various issues, including the U.S.' new tariff schemes that include 25 percent country-specific import duties for South Korea.

"I will return after opening the door for discussions on resolidifying the alliance between South Korea and the United States," Choi told reporters at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, before departing for Washington.

Choi is scheduled to attend a series of key economic meetings in the U.S. capital, including the meeting on U.S. tariffs that will mark the first high-level trade talks between the two allies since Trump took office in January.

He will be accompanied by Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun for what the government has described as "2+2 trade consultations."

The high-level talks, set for Thursday (U.S. time), will also include U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer.

Earlier in the day, the ministry said the agenda for the 2+2 trade consultations is still being coordinated with the U.S. side and has not been finalized.

South Korea is among the first countries to hold trade negotiations with Washington following the Trump administration's implementation of reciprocal tariffs on all its major trading partners. Seoul, whose economy relies heavily on exports, was hit with a 25 percent tariff, temporarily lowered to 10 percent for a 90-day period.

Ahn, who is set to depart for Washington on Wednesday, said the government seeks to achieve a "win-win" outcome in tariff talks with the U.S.

"We will closely negotiate with the U.S. administration to minimize the impact (of U.S. tariffs) on Korean companies," he noted in a press release.

Following the planned "2+2" trade consultations, Ahn plans to hold a separate one-on-one meeting with Greer.

In addition to the finance and industry ministers, officials from the foreign affairs, science, agriculture and other government ministries will also visit Washington as part of the South Korean delegation to the trade talks, according to the government.

Along with the U.S.' tariff measures that include 25 percent duties on all steel, aluminum and automobile imports, the delegation is expected to discuss various other issues raised by Washington regarding non-tariff barriers.

In its latest National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers released earlier this month, the office of the USTR cited 21 non-tariff measures by South Korea, including restrictions on U.S. beef products deriving from animals more than 30 months of age, network usage fees, proposals to regulate online platform operators for fair competition and restrictions on location-based data.

khj@yna.co.kr
(END)