Chip tariff talks with US based on understanding Korea won't be disadvantaged: Seoul official
Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Thursday that Seoul and Washington are continuing talks on U.S. semiconductor tariffs under the understanding that Korea would not be put at a disadvantage compared with its competitors. Kim made the remarks during a meeting with reporters at an event marking four U.S. companies' plans to invest in Korea, a day after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard…
Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan disclosed on Thursday that ongoing discussions between Seoul and Washington center around U.S. semiconductor tariffs, with a consensus that Korea would not face any disadvantage relative to its competitors. Kim provided these insights at a press conference alongside an event announcing four U.S. companies' investment plans in Korea, following a comment by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Lutnick had stated that President Donald Trump's administration is striving to create a "targeted and thoughtful" tariff policy specifically for semiconductors. In October's tariff negotiations, the U.S. had already pledged to not disadvantage Korean semiconductors compared to its rivals, according to Lutnick. Kim expressed confidence that the two nations are maintaining these talks with mutual respect.
Furthermore, the Industry Minister highlighted the semiconductor section of a joint fact sheet released by Seoul and Washington in November, outlining bilateral agreements on trade, investment, and security. This fact sheet contained a U.S. commitment to maintain semiconductor tariff rates for Korea that are "no less favorable" than the terms previously offered.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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