Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday he plans to clearly explain to the United States parliamentary procedures in South Korea, after Trump warned of a tariff hike citing a delay in Seoul's legislative process to implement a bilateral trade deal.
Cho made the remarks ahead of departing for Washington, where he is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as Seoul seeks to allay doubts among the Trump administration on Seoul's pledge to carry out US$350 billion of investment in the U.S.
Trump's threat to raise the reciprocal tariff on South Korean goods to 25 percent from 15 percent has stoked concerns that the trade deal may be falling apart. Cho said earlier Trump's message does not mean the deal's collapse.
"I will explain in detail to the U.S. side and seek their understanding that the agreements reached between the two governments are in the process of being legislated in accordance with our National Assembly procedures," Cho told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.
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