Acting President Choi Sang-mok presides over a meeting of economy-related ministers at the government complex in Seoul on March 19, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 24 (Korea Bizwire) — Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Monday instructed the government to promptly engage in follow-up discussions regarding a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Energy to place South Korea on its “sensitive and other designated countries list.”
Seoul and Washington have begun working-level talks to address the issue, following Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun’s meeting with Energy Secretary Chris Wright during his trip to Washington last week.
Choi directed relevant agencies to form an interagency task force to coordinate negotiations with U.S. counterparts and ensure a swift resolution of the issue by staying vigilant and committed until it is fully resolved.
Regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to impose reciprocal tariffs, Choi emphasized the need for the government to “actively explain” South Korea’s stance while also exploring potential public-private cooperation measures in response.
The Trump administration has announced plans to introduce country-specific reciprocal tariffs starting April 2. The proposed tariffs will be determined based on various factors, such as tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed by trading partners, exchange rates and U.S. assessments of unfair trade practices, Washington has said.
(Yonhap)
