Trump’s America First policies targeting South Korea: Acting President Choi Sang-mok
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South Korean stocks are falling amid tariff threats from US President Donald Trump.
PHOTO: AFP
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SEOUL – South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok said on March 11 that US President Donald Trump’s America First policies have started targeting his country.
Mr Choi said discussions with the United States over tariff measures and stronger cooperation on energy and shipbuilding were beginning ahead of “reciprocal tariffs” set to take effect on April 2.
Mr Trump had earlier announced a global regime of reciprocal tariffs
He has threatened to impose “all-out pressure” on South Korea, Mr Choi said, citing his comments to the US Congress where he singled out the key US Asia ally for applying high tariffs.
Earlier this week, Mr Choi sought to open talks
“The government will only consider the national interest and respond with ‘a cool head and flexibility’, and will devote all our efforts to finding a mutual win-win agreement between South Korea and the United States,” Mr Choi told a Cabinet meeting on March 11.
Mr Trump also wants to scrap a bipartisan law that provides subsidies for semiconductor chip manufacturing and production.
In the final weeks of the previous US administration, the Commerce Department finalised more than US$33 billion (S$44 billion) in awards, including US$4.7 billion to South Korea’s Samsung Electronics.
Separately, Mr Choi also noted rising public concerns in South Korea over the risk of physical conflict ahead of an “important ruling” by the Constitutional Court.
He said the government would deal sternly with any violent, illegal protests “without any tolerance”.
Police are preparing for the “worst-case scenarios”
Mr Yoon’s supporters and opponents have been taking to the streets to hold rallies amid a political crisis triggered by the suspended President’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024. REUTERS
