US and South Korea come away with different takes on trade talks

Bessent hints a deal could come next week while Seoul talks about July

20250425 The port of Pyeongtaek in South Korea on April 3

The port of Pyeongtaek in South Korea: Customs data shows South Korea's exports to the U.S. decreased 14.3%, to $6.2 billion, for the first 20 days of April compared to the same period last year. © Getty Images

KIM JAEWON

April 25, 2025 18:11 JST

SEOUL -- The U.S. and South Korea differed on when they might conclude an "agreement on understanding" after their first ministerial-level trade talks in Washington on Thursday, with Washington mentioning "next week" and Seoul talking about early July.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer hosted South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun for a two-plus-two at the Treasury Department.