South Korea is pushing for an exemption from new US tariffs. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun recently traveled to Washington, DC, to discuss the issue with top US officials.

Ahn met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. He asked for South Korean companies to be spared from the new tariff rules and discussed strengthening trade ties between the two nations.

According to South Korea’s industry ministry, the discussions focused on key industries like shipbuilding and advanced technology. Both sides agreed to set up a working group to continue discussions on tariffs and shipbuilding cooperation.

This meeting was the first high-level trade discussion between the two countries since Donald Trump began his second term as US president.

It comes at a time of political uncertainty in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol is currently suspended from office after his controversial imposition of martial law.

Ahn’s visit follows another trip by Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won, who led a South Korean delegation to Washington just a week earlier. That group also urged the US to exclude South Korea from tariffs on steel and aluminum.

With these ongoing efforts, South Korea hopes to protect its industries and maintain strong trade ties with the US.