Trump highlights 'new trade deal' with S. Korea in tweeter account

By Park Sae-jin Posted : June 30, 2017, 15:55 Updated : June 30, 2017, 15:55

[AP/Yonhap News Photo]


Fresh from a White House dinner for President Moon Jae-in, US President Donald Trump made no disguise of his determination to push for renegotiations on a free trade pact with South Korea as a key top at their summit talks.

"Just finished a very good meeting with the President of South Korea. Many subjects discussed including North Korea and new trade deal!," Trump said in a message posted on his Twitter account that followed his first meeting with Moon.

Trump's protectionist tone has been anticipated ahead of the summit meeting, and Moon left open the possibility of renegotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that took effect in 2012. "I think it can be discussed if the Korea-US FTA needs to be further developed and improved," Moon told reporters on his way to Washington.

Moon, however, described the trade accord as "well balanced" and stressed it has promoted bilateral trade. South Korea's surplus is smaller than that of China and Japan, he said, citing a US surplus in the service sector.

Financial officials and experts in Seoul have expressed concern about downside risks caused by Trump's strong protectionism. Trump once called the FTA a "destroyer" of US jobs, especially in the auto industry.

Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com


 
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