S. Korea, US begin tariff talks

South Korea has wrapped up its first official trade talks with the United States, with its delegation requesting tariff exemptions and calling for "calm and orderly" consultations.

Choi Sang-mok, South Korea's deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, and Ahn Duk-geun, minister of trade, industry and energy, held a 2+2 trade consultation with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

According to a news release from Seoul's Ministry of Economy and Finance, Choi expressed the South Korean public's concerns regarding US tariff hikes.