“Trump Tariffs Ruled Unlawful”: Party, Government, and Presidential Office to Hold U.S. Tariff and Trade Review Meeting on Night of 22nd

To Be Held Behind Closed Doors at 8 p.m. on the 22nd
Chaired by Director Wi Sung-rak and Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom
Discussion of Response Measures to the "Trump Reciprocal Tariff Ruling"

The Presidential Office, the Democratic Party of Korea, and the government will hold a closed-door “Meeting to Review Current Trade Issues Related to U.S. Tariffs” on the afternoon of the 22nd to discuss countermeasures in connection with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Donald Trump administration’s “reciprocal tariffs” are unlawful.

Yonhap News Agency

The party, government, and Presidential Office will convene the meeting at 8 p.m. on this day at the Financial Training Institute in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, chaired by Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom and National Security Office Director Wi Sunglak. From the ruling party, Floor Leader Han Byungdo of the Democratic Party of Korea, Policy Committee Chair Han Jeongae, and Representative Jung Taeho, who serves as secretary of the National Assembly’s special committee on the “U.S. Investment Act,” will attend. From the Presidential Office, in addition to Chief Kim and Director Wi, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ikpyo and Presidential Secretary for Industrial Policy Yoon Sunghyuk will be present. From the government side, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeonggwan, Trade Minister Yeo Hankoo, and First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoonjoo are reportedly included on the attendee list.

At this meeting, they are expected to review the direction of their response at a time when the likelihood of additional tariff measures by the Trump administration has increased following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the “reciprocal tariffs” are unlawful. In particular, with the ruling party leadership and members of the National Assembly special committee attending together, it appears that trade issues are being addressed not only at the government level but expanded into a cooperative framework among the party, the government, and the Presidential Office.

The Presidential Office also held an inter-ministerial meeting the previous day (the 21st), chaired by National Security Office Director Wi Sunglak and Policy Chief Kim Yongbeom, to review the key contents and implications of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The government noted that, under this ruling, the 15% reciprocal tariffs currently imposed by the United States could be rendered invalid, while also pointing out that the U.S. administration has mentioned follow-up measures such as imposing a 10% “global tariff” under Section 122 of the Trade Act. It stated that it will closely monitor any additional measures and the moves of major countries.