Industry minister meets with Howard Lutnick over trade, investment issues in Washington

Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan journeyed to Washington to engage in discussions with U.S. officials on a range of bilateral trade and industrial matters. Among the topics covered during his meetings with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on August 17-18 were potential U.S. investment projects and their anticipated timelines. The two nations aimed to bridge any existing gaps during these discussions, as reported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources in a press release.

Kim's itinerary also included a scheduled meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamie L. L. Greer on August 19. The focus of this conversation would be to address bilateral trade issues, including a Section 301 investigation, and to emphasize the importance of keeping communication channels open between the two countries. Additionally, Kim was set to meet Russell Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to deliberate on follow-up actions regarding President Donald Trump's recently announced plans to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

The minister sought to explore potential avenues for strengthening cooperation between Korea and the United States in this sector. Kim's trip to Washington occurred just two days after South Korea's chief trade negotiator made a previous visit to the U.S.