FM Cho asks Rubio to conduct tariff talks with 'sufficient time' in view of election in S. Korea

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul called for the United States to carry out bilateral talks over tariffs and other issues "with sufficient time" in consideration of the June 3 presidential election in South Korea during a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said. Cho made the remarks as Seoul has been striving to secure exemptions from the Trump administration's "reciprocal" and sectoral tariffs, with a view to reaching a "July package" agreement over trade, and economic and industrial cooperation before July 8, when President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends. "Minister Cho called for further strengthening the alliance based on a strong combined defense posture against North Korea, and for closely cooperating to explore a win-win solution from recent tariff consultations between the trade authorities of South Korea and the U.S.," the ministry said in a press release. Cho asked Rubio to play a role in ensuring that during the trade talks, South Korea's status as the U.S.' ally, and a country with a free trade agreement with the U.S.,Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times