South Korea seeks tariff exemption from the U.S

South Korea's trade minister has requested a tariff exemption from the U.S. ahead of potential reciprocal tariffs set to begin in April. This request was made during a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced tariffs affecting all trading partners, citing South Korea's higher tariffs as a concern. South Korea disputes this claim, stating its effective tariff rate on U.S. imports is only 0.79% due to a free trade agreement. South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok has directed the government to enhance communication with the U.S. to address tariff misunderstandings. Both countries plan to continue discussions on tariff and non-tariff measures.