S. Korean Minister to hold trade talks in US this week

South Korea' Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Ahn Duk-geun departed for the United States to hold trade talks over steep tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump. 

The country is a major exporter to the United States, and giants such as Samsung Electronics and auto maker Hyundai stand to take a hefty hit if the White House goes ahead with its threatened levies. 

He will meet US Treasury Secretary Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday to "mark a meaningful starting point for future cooperation". Seoul last week announced plans to invest almost $5 billion extra in the country's semiconductor industry, citing "growing uncertainty" over US tariffs.