South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun Chong speaks at the 2007 signing of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement in Washington, D.C. Thus far, free trade voices have held sway in the Trump administration. But that might be about to change when it comes to trade with South Korea.
The White House is considering beginning the official withdrawal process from the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) next week, several sources have told Inside U.S. Trade. The online publication noted in a Sept. 1 report that U.S. President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on whether to make the move , but the news source also reported that the draft notice has been written and that several members of Congress have been told it will be announced Sept. 5. The U.S. trade pressure on South Korea comes as Washington is trying to maintain Seoul's cooperation in reining in North Korea. The two negotiations have run on parallel tracks, and South Korea is aware that the United States will pursue its trade agenda regardless of Seoul's cooperation against Pyongyang.
