President Donald Trump previewed a possible agreement with South Korea Tuesday to potentially avoid reciprocal tariffs — and said he's willing to negotiate with China.
South Korea is sending its trade minister to the U.S. to discuss the 25-percent tariff Trump is imposing, which is one of the highest to be slapped on a U.S. ally. But the president said he'd had a good discussion with his counterpart on the contours of an agreement on a number of topics, including military aid.
"I just had a great call with the Acting President of South Korea," Trump posted Tuesday morning on Truth Social. "We talked about their tremendous and unsustainable Surplus, Tariffs, Shipbuilding, large scale purchase of U.S. LNG, their joint venture in an Alaska Pipeline, and payment for the big time Military Protection we provide to South Korea."
"They began these Military payments during my first term, Billions of Dollars, but Sleepy Joe Biden, for reasons unknown, terminated the deal," he added. "That was a shocker to all!"
During his first term, Trump sought billions of dollars more from South Korea to maintain U.S. military bases there, but an agreement was never reached before he left office, and the Biden administration successfully negotiated a five-year deal in 2021 that increased the ally's cost-sharing payment by 13.9 percent.
"In any event, we have the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries," Trump posted. "Their top TEAM is on a plane heading to the U.S., and things are looking good. We are likewise dealing with many other countries, all of whom want to make a deal with the United States. Like with South Korea, we are bringing up other subjects that are not covered by Trade and Tariffs, and getting them negotiated also."
The double-digit reciprocal tariffs are set to snap into place Wednesday, but the president indicated he was willing to let other countries negotiate their way out of them.
"'ONE STOP SHOPPING' is a beautiful and efficient process!!!" Trump posted. "China also wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call. It will happen! GOD BLESS THE USA."