South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on Thursday that he was not sure of reaching a trade deal with the United States (U.S.) by July 8.
Lee said July 8 would be a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump to implement the so-called “reciprocal tariffs.’’
The South Korean leader told a news conference marking his 30th day in office that tariff negotiations were not easy, saying it was difficult to say whether they would be completed by July 8.
He stressed that his government was doing its best.
Seoul and Washington should produce mutually beneficial outcomes, but what each side demanded had yet to be decided, the president noted.
Lee said it is a difficult subject to discuss, as what he thinks can affect the negotiations, adding that his government will continue to make its best efforts.
Meanwhile, on his foreign policies, the president said that he “will protect peace and people’s lives through national interests-centered pragmatic diplomacy based on a firm South Korea-U.S. alliance.
“A close cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and a rapid improvement of relations with China and Russia.’’