The agreement Japan secured has added pressure on South Korea to defuse the threat of high tariffs on its exports to the United States.

South Korea and the United States have been discussing a shipbuilding tie-up that could include investments to modernise U.S. shipyards and more help to repair the U.S. naval fleet as Seoul seeks better tariff terms,

A high-level trade meeting between South Korea and the US this week will be missing US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent due to a scheduling conflict on the US side, South Korea’s Finance Ministry said Thursday.