As the government is set to enter into tariff negotiations with the United States next week, political circles are clashing over the subjects and pace of the negotiations. The Democratic Party of Korea warned Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is at the forefront of the tariff negotiations, saying, “If you have intentions to run, stay out of the tariff discussions.” Meanwhile, the People Power Party, which expects visible results from the tariff negotiations to be helpful in the presidential election, has come to support Acting Prime Minister Han.
According to political circles, the Democratic Party of Korea is strongly objecting to the government’s intensification of tariff negotiations, stating, “A hasty negotiation on tariffs with the U.S. cannot happen.” Kim Min-seok, a senior member of the party, emphasized at the senior member meeting on the 16th that “The negotiations and agreements are the responsibility and authority of a new government with elected legitimacy and negotiating power, while the acting system led by the dismissed president Han Duck-soo embodies the maximum adherence to sincere preliminary negotiations.”
Since the Trump administration identified South Korea and four other allied countries as the first subjects for tariff negotiations, the government has been accelerating its negotiations with the U.S. The Democratic Party argues that since the 90-day grace period for tariffs announced by the U.S. is until July 8, the new government, launching on June 4, must initiate negotiations.
The Democratic Party is demanding that each political party and the government jointly discuss the direction of negotiations through the establishment of the National Assembly Special Committee on Trade, discussions between the private sector, public sector, and government, and the dispatch of a bipartisan delegation to the U.S. under the principle of prioritizing national interests.
The Democratic Party is also raising voices questioning, “Isn't Acting Prime Minister Han rushing negotiations for political purposes and engaging in giveaway negotiations?” Senior member Kim warned, “Don’t even dream of hastily negotiating just to create a justification for registering as a presidential candidate. If you are to fulfill the acting role, immediately declare that you will not run, and if you have intentions to run, you must step aside from the tariff discussions with the U.S.”
On the other hand, the People Power Party rebutted by stating, “Former Representative Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party are even making the tariff war a subject of political strife.” They argue that since the issue directly impacts national industry, jobs, and livelihoods, the government must promptly engage in negotiations.
The atmosphere within the People Power Party is one of anticipation that if clear results emerge from the tariff negotiations with the U.S., it could act as a boon for the conservative camp in the presidential election. It is argued that Acting Prime Minister Han, who has a background as a trade expert and former ambassador to the U.S., could gain persuasive power in the context of the tariff war as “the main opponent to Lee Jae-myung.”
Acting Prime Minister Han is fully engaged in tariff negotiations with the U.S. On the 14th, he announced the initiation of U.S.-Korea trade negotiations, stating, “If necessary, I will create a resolution point through direct communication with President Trump.” He also expressed a strong determination, calling the response to the trade war initiated by the U.S. “the last mission entrusted to me.”
Park Min-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, remarked during a phone call, “If President Trump has a favorable view of the acting role itself and directly negotiates to achieve good results, it could serve as an effective role for a public exhausted by political struggles.”
A Member of Parliament from the PK (Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam) region noted, “The Democratic Party's foreign policy line is clearly pro-China. If it doesn’t, they won’t garner support from their key base,” adding, “If observed, the Han Duck-soo card may still be valid.”
However, there are projections within the People Power Party that achieving results will not be easy. A member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee stated, “The U.S. is likely to conduct strong and tough negotiations, so it won’t be an easy negotiation. It is currently difficult to predict how negotiations will unfold.”
The spotlight on tariff negotiations is expected to continue throughout the presidential election period. According to government sources, it is known that a schedule is being arranged for Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, to visit South Korea next month.
The U.S. Trade Representative is the agency overseeing international trade negotiations and the establishment and implementation of trade policy. If the U.S. Trade Representative’s head visits South Korea, it will be the first ministerial visit following the inauguration of the second Trump administration. There are also reports in diplomatic circles that another official from President Trump’s team may visit South Korea and meet with Acting Prime Minister Han directly.