Breaking Down Trump’s New Trade Deal with South Korea | Eye on Korea Ep. 15

Dr. Hyo-young Lee, Associate Professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and an expert in international trade and diplomacy, joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder for a detailed discussion of the recently announced U.S.–South Korea trade deal. Our conversation explores how Korean negotiators navigated the pressure of earlier U.S. trade deals with Japan and the EU, and how Seoul secured a 15 percent reciprocal tariff agreement while protecting red-line sectors such as rice and beef. Dr. Lee also explains the significance of Korea’s $350 billion investment pledge, including the distinctive “Make America Shipbuilding Great Again” initiative, and what it reveals about Korea’s evolving economic strategy toward the United States. We also discuss the sidelining of the KORUS FTA, the growing role of Korean conglomerates, emerging frictions over digital trade, and the risks of closely linking trade and security. With an upcoming summit between President Trump and President Lee expected in Washington, Dr. Lee offers insight into which issues are likely to be addressed by the two leaders and which should remain the focus of working-level discussions. Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more content on U.S.–South Korea news, analysis, politics, and more. Social Links: Website: https://keia.org/ LinkedIn:   / korea-economic-institute-of-america   Facebook:   / koreaeconinstitute   Instagram:   / koreaeconinst   Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.] ___________________________________ Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... By formulanone - Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia - Aerial, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... Images courtesy of United States Forces Korea https://www.usfk.mil/Media/Images/igp... . Expert Infantry, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons By Republic of Korea Ministry of Economy and Finance - On July 29, Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun Cheol, during his visit to Washington, D.C. for Korea-U.S. trade talks, held a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, joined by Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan and Trade Minister for Trade Yeo HanKoo, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://english.moef.go.kr/mi/selectT... . By USFK - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E5SNdh_VE..., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... By Republic of Korea from Seoul, Republic of Korea - The Inauguration Ceremony of the 21th President of Republic of Korea, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...