U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (L) shakes hands with South Korean Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers’ meeting on Jeju Island on May 15, 2025. ( Image courtesy of Yonhap)
JEJU, South Korea, May 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo met with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on Thursday to discuss tariff and other trade issues on the sidelines of a trade ministers’ meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Seoul’s industry ministry said.
Cheong and Greer held a one-on-one meeting at around 7:30 p.m., after wrapping up their first day of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting on the southern resort island of Jeju.
In the meeting, Cheong and Greer discussed pending trade issues between the two sides and the progress of Washington’s trade negotiations with other countries, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Cheong told reporters the Seoul government will work to “get the most out of” Greer’s visit, saying it aims for “orderly” negotiations with the U.S.
South Korea is one of the first countries that began trade talks with the U.S., but an upcoming presidential election in June is slowing progress in the ongoing negotiations.
Thursday’s meeting comes after the countries agreed last month to craft a “package” deal on U.S. tariffs and economic cooperation issues by early July, when the 90-day pause on the U.S.’ new country-specific tariffs, including 25 percent duties on South Korean goods, will end.
Seoul has proposed expanding bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding and energy sectors as part of efforts to lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods.
Greer is also set to hold a meeting with South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun on Friday.
The APEC ministerial meeting began earlier in the day and is set to close Friday.
The Jeju event is drawing keen attention as South Korea and other major APEC member nations, such as Japan and China, are undergoing trade negotiations with Washington.
Greer earlier met with Chinese trade envoy Li Chenggang, also taking part in the APEC meeting here, according to Seoul officials. Details of the meeting were not immediately available.
The Greer-Li meeting came after their countries reached a deal in high-stakes talks held in Geneva over the weekend to temporarily reduce their tariffs for 90 days.
Under the agreement, the U.S. slashed its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent from 145 percent, while Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods have been brought down to 10 percent from 125 percent.
Meanwhile, Cheong said he, too, met with the Chinese trade envoy earlier in the day, where the two sides discussed multilateral trade system and global supply chain issues.
He said Li stressed the importance of multilateralism and China’s efforts to support global supply chains in their meeting.
“But there was no discussion on the economic security issue,” he noted.
(Yonhap)
