Trump Says Tariff Talks with South Korea Won’t Wrap Up Tomorrow

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that tariff negotiations would not be concluded the following day, responding to questions regarding ongoing trade talks with South Korea.

Trump made these remarks during a press availability after returning from Scotland. South Korean negotiators are racing against time to secure a trade deal with his administration before Friday, when Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, including a 25 percent duty on Korean imports, are set to take effect unless an agreement is reached.

“Negotiations won’t be finished tomorrow, but our country is becoming very rich, and that’s what we want,” Trump told reporters, according to a White House pool report.

“We have to have a rich America. We’re taking in a lot of money. We’re becoming very strong and very rich,” he added.

The President was responding to a reporter’s question about whether tariff talks with South Korea would conclude on Wednesday.

However, it remains unclear if Trump’s remarks referred to the broader tariff negotiations with various trading partners or specifically to the discussions with South Korean officials.

Earlier that day, The Wall Street Journal reported that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had urged Korean negotiators to bring their “best and final” trade offer to the table—a clear signal for the Asian ally to make concessions in order to reach a deal. (Yonhap)