White House official: Koreans made no progress on trade deal

WASHINGTON — A White House official said Tuesday that South Korea has made “no progress” on fulfilling its end of a bilateral trade deal although U.S. President Donald Trump lowered tariffs on the Asian country. The official made the remarks a day after Trump said he is increasing “reciprocal” tariffs and auto duties on South Korea, among others, to 25 percent from 15 percent, taking issue with a delay in the Asian country’s legislative procedures supporting the implementation of the trade deal. “The simple reality is that South Korea reached a deal with the Trump administration to secure lower tariffs,” the official said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. “While the president lowered tariffs on Korea, the Koreans have made no progress on fulfilling their end of the bargain,” the official added. Trump’s surprise tariff announcement created confusion among policymakers in Seoul, prompting them to rush Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who was in Canada on a business trip, to Washington for talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Under a trade deal struck in late

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