Minister Ahn Dukgeun and Greer to Hold Separate Meeting
Interim Review of Tariff Negotiations
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Ministers' Meeting, which brings together trade leaders from major countries, will be held for two days starting May 15 at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC) in Seogwipo, Jeju. With trade ministers from 21 member economies and senior officials from international organizations in attendance, this multilateral meeting is expected to see intense behind-the-scenes negotiations over the restructuring of the global trade order.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on May 15, Minister Ahn Dukgeun and Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), will hold a separate meeting on May 16 to conduct an interim review of negotiations in both tariff and non-tariff areas. This follow-up face-to-face negotiation comes just three weeks after the '2+2 Trade Consultation' held in Washington, D.C. last month, and is expected to be a critical turning point for the success or failure of the 'July Package' negotiations, which are being pursued with the goal of reaching an agreement by July 8.
In this round of talks, Korea plans to propose industrial cooperation measures in sectors such as shipbuilding and energy, and will focus its negotiating efforts on securing U.S. tariff reductions for key items such as automobiles and semiconductors. In particular, following the recent breakthrough agreement between the United States and China on tariff reductions, there is keen interest in whether the United States will show a certain degree of flexibility toward Korea as well. A Ministry official stated, "Given that Minister Ahn is personally leading the July Package negotiations to accelerate progress, significant advancements are expected."
The Korea-U.S. negotiations are not merely bilateral trade issues; they also serve as a major test for how Korea will secure leadership in the changing global trade environment following the launch of the second Trump administration. Recently, the United States has reached consecutive trade agreements with the United Kingdom, China, and others, signaling a partial retreat from the 'tariff war' phase. Depending on the outcome of these Korea-U.S. talks, Korea's trade strategy toward the United States may undergo significant adjustments.
Jin Ingyo, Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, held a bilateral meeting with Li Chenggang, China's Ministry of Commerce International Trade Negotiations Representative and Deputy Director General, who visited on the occasion of attending the '2025 APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting' held at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC) in Seogwipo, Jeju on the morning of the 15th. They discussed ways to strengthen trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, including Korea-China FTA service and investment negotiations. Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
Active behind-the-scenes negotiations among major countries are also expected outside the APEC meeting venue. The United States and China recently agreed to mutually reduce tariffs by 115 percentage points each through high-level talks in Geneva, and there is a possibility that Jamieson Greer and Li Chenggang, China's Ministry of Commerce International Trade Negotiations Representative and Deputy Director General, will continue additional discussions during the Jeju meeting. There is also interest in whether a bilateral meeting between the United States and Japan will take place, although a specific schedule has not yet been confirmed.
A Ministry official explained, "The list of participating countries and the schedule for bilateral meetings are extremely sensitive matters and may change in real time," adding, "The outline will become clearer as a result of today's (May 15) multilateral meeting."
This meeting also serves as a platform for coordinating trade agendas ahead of the APEC Leaders' Meeting scheduled to be held in Gyeongju at the end of October. Depending on the outcomes, it is possible that decisions will be made on whether to lower tariffs that could directly impact Korea's export industries, as well as on the direction of Korea's mid- to long-term trade strategy. As the world seeks a new balance between protectionism and trade conflicts, the flow of bilateral and multilateral negotiations beginning in Jeju is expected to have a considerable impact on the future of the global economy.
Meanwhile, the Korean government has organized this meeting around three main sessions: ▲ AI Innovation for Trade Facilitation ▲ Connectivity through the Multilateral Trading System ▲ Prosperity through Sustainable Trade.
The session on 'AI Innovation for Trade Facilitation' will discuss various cooperation measures to promote the use of AI in the trade sector. Participants will share opinions on the use of AI in customs and clearance administration, as well as on AI standards and information. In this session, Yoshiki Takeuchi, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, who has played a leading role in establishing international trade norms for AI such as the OECD Principles on AI, will deliver a presentation.
The 'Connectivity through the Multilateral Trading System' session will focus on innovative measures for the WTO and the role of APEC in restoring the multilateral trading system. The 'Prosperity through Sustainable Trade' session will discuss not only stable supply chains but also cooperation measures for building sustainable supply chains in response to the climate crisis.
Jin Ingyo, Director General for Trade Negotiations, stated, "The external environment surrounding APEC is challenging, and given the severe global trade environment, the role of APEC is more necessary than ever. In today's world, where the multilateral trading system is being tested, the outcomes of this meeting will resonate widely." He added, "I hope that today's Trade Ministers' Meeting will serve as a platform for communication and cooperation to help resolve the political and economic conflicts and uncertainties facing the world."
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