Trump’s ‘America First’ policies targeting South Korea, says acting president

Choi Sang-mok Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg

South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies had started targeting his country.

Choi said discussions with the United States over tariff measures and stronger cooperation on energy and shipbuilding were beginning ahead of “reciprocal tariffs” set to take effect on April 2.

Trump has threatened to impose a global regime of reciprocal tariffs on all U.S. trading partners from April 2.

“The government will only consider the national interest and respond with ‘a cool head and flexibility’, and will devote all our efforts to finding a mutual win-win agreement between South Korea and the United States,” Choi told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Separately, Choi also noted rising public concerns in South Korea over the risk of physical conflict ahead of an “important ruling” by the Constitutional Court. He said the government would deal sternly with any violent, illegal protests “without any tolerance.”

Police are preparing for the “worst-case scenarios” over safety concerns when the Constitutional Court rules on whether to oust or reinstate impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.