Failure of Korea-US Tariff Talks... Song Eonseok Questions If the President Is Truly Prepared

"If We Fail to Maintain the 15% Reciprocal Tariff, It Will Be a Failed Negotiation"
"Lee Jaemyung Must Go to the United States Quickly and Meet Trump"

Song Eonseok, the Emergency Response Committee Chair and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, criticized the abrupt cancellation of the "2+2 talks" between the finance and trade ministers of South Korea and the United States, stating on the 25th, "They said the president was prepared, but he is not prepared at all," and added, "This shows how much harm such matters can cause to the national interest."

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the morning of the same day, appearing on SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyun's Political Show," Song pointed out, "In the previous administration, the Democratic Party impeached the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, preventing proper negotiations with the United States and demanding that the issue be handed over to the next administration. But it is regrettable that there was no preparation at all even after the transfer of power."

Song continued, "Even in Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with President Donald Trump right away, and their negotiation team continued talks. In our case, we were unable to conduct summit diplomacy or even meet with the negotiation team. Because of such an approach, this time we were notified of the 2+2 meeting's cancellation right before departure and could not attend."

He added, "While President Lee Jaemyung has not even met President Trump, he said he is considering attending China's Victory Day event. Naturally, from the American perspective, they must be worried, wondering, 'Isn't South Korea acting a bit strange?'"

He emphasized, "For the sake of the national interest and people's livelihoods, President Lee Jaemyung must go to the United States quickly and meet President Trump."

Regarding President Trump's announcement of a 25% reciprocal tariff on South Korea, Song explained, "Japan agreed to 15%, and there were reports that the EU (European Union) also approached nearly 15%. For our country, 15% must be the absolute bottom line. If we fail to keep it at 15% and agree to 16% or 17%, it will inevitably be seen as a failed negotiation."

On the direction of the South Korea-US negotiations, he said, "Our companies will inevitably have to increase investment in the United States significantly," and added, "President Trump is essentially a businessman. Since his basic idea is to make American people better off, he will likely make similar requests to our country."

He continued, "Prime Minister Ishiba did not change the total volume of rice imports from abroad but shifted imports from other countries to American rice. Our country also has an annual rice import quota, so we may end up in a similar situation."

Previously, South Korea and the United States were scheduled to hold the 2+2 talks in Washington, D.C. on the 25th, but it was abruptly canceled the day before due to the schedule of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol, who was waiting to board at Incheon Airport, turned back upon receiving the news.