Presidential Office Responds to U.S. Commerce Secretary's Tariff Pressure: "National Interest Comes First in Negotiations"

"We Will Not Engage in Negotiations That Deviate from Rationality or Fairness"

The Office of the President has stated its position that it will "negotiate with the national interest as the top priority" in response to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick's remarks that there would be "no flexibility" regarding the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations.

Yonhap News Agency

An official from the Office of the President said on the 12th, "As President Lee Jaemyung stated during his 100th day in office press conference yesterday, we will not engage in negotiations that deviate from rationality or fairness."

On the 11th (local time), Secretary Lutnick commented on Japan's signing of the U.S.-Japan tariff negotiation document, stating, "There is no flexibility. Korea must either accept the agreement or pay the pre-agreement tariffs." His remarks were seen as a form of pressure amid the ongoing deadlock in negotiations.

Currently, South Korea and the United States reached a broad agreement on July 30, which includes a 15% mutual tariff and a $350 billion investment fund for the United States. However, the two sides have been unable to find common ground in the stage of negotiating specific implementation items.