Trump will meet South Korea's trade delegation, Seoul says
SEOUL (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump will meet South Korea's trade delegation, South Korea's presidential office said on Thursday, as top officials from Seoul are in Washington to cut a last-minute deal on U.S. tariffs.
South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday, according to the finance ministry.
Industry and trade ministers have been in Washington since last week to reach a deal before August 1, a deadline set by Trump for 25% tariffs to kick in against South Korea, a major U.S. ally and powerhouse exporter of chips, cars and steel.
Pressure has been mounting on South Korea since Japan clinched a deal to cut Trump's threatened tariffs to 15% earlier this month.
Top business leaders were also reported to be flying in to help lobby for a deal on U.S. tariffs.
The South Korean government is negotiating with the U.S. by setting up a package of trade and offers on industrial cooperation such as in shipbuilding, chips and batteries, officials say.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Leslie Adler and Alistair Bell)
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