Trump is initiating tariff discussions with Seoul, Japan, and India, according to Yonhap

South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo announced on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump seems to have initiated discussions on tariffs with South Korea, Japan, and India, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Han also indicated that a video conference between U.S. and South Korean officials regarding the proposed Alaska LNG project is expected to take place soon, as reported by Yonhap.

During a meeting of the economic security strategy task force, Han elaborated on South Korea’s position regarding tariff negotiations, stating that Trump appeared to be pleased with the explanation.

He expressed his willingness to engage directly with Trump again if needed, aiming to foster collaboration between the two nations in areas such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and shipbuilding, as noted by Yonhap.

Last week, South Korea’s trade and industry minister highlighted that potential collaboration with the U.S. in the shipbuilding industry is a “very important card” in tariff negotiations. South Korea has shown interest in the Alaska LNG project, which aligns with Trump’s efforts to enhance U.S. gas exports; however, any involvement would depend on discussions with Washington, with the minister cautioning that the project’s profitability may be in question.

On Monday, Kim Hong-kyun, Seoul’s first vice foreign minister, informed parliament that the Trump administration has not yet suggested negotiations regarding defense costs for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Nevertheless, he mentioned that South Korea is preparing for various scenarios. Trump indicated that he spoke with Han last week about South Korea’s financial contribution for “big time” U.S. military protection, suggesting that defense costs could be included in a broader agreement encompassing tariffs and trade.