FM arrives in Washington for talks with Rubio amid renewed tariff tensions

▲ Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrives at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, to depart for the United States on Feb. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

FM-US visit

FM arrives in Washington for talks with Rubio amid renewed tariff tensions

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrived in the United States on Tuesday to attend bilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a multilateral forum on critical minerals this week, as Seoul strives to address renewed trade tensions with Washington.

Cho's arrival came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened last week to raise "reciprocal" tariffs, and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical levies on South Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing a delay in the Asian country's legislative process needed for the implementation of a bilateral trade deal.

Cho is set to meet Rubio at the State Department later in the day for talks on the tariff issue as well as efforts to implement bilateral summit agreements specified in a joint fact sheet that the two governments released in November.

Before his departure for the U.S., Cho told reporters that he will explain to the U.S. side South Korea's ongoing legislative process regarding the trade deal, and ask for its understanding.

He was referring to a special bill that the ruling Democratic Party submitted to the National Assembly in November to support the implementation of Seoul's investment pledge as part of the bilateral trade deal.

Under the deal, Seoul has committed to investing US$350 billion in the U.S., among other pledges, in return for Washington lowering reciprocal tariffs on South Korea to 15 percent from 25 percent.

During the meeting with Rubio, Cho is also expected to discuss cooperation over Seoul's efforts to secure civil uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing rights. The U.S. expressed its support for the efforts in the joint fact sheet.

On Wednesday, Cho plans to attend the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, a meeting that Rubio will host at the department to reinforce and diversify critical minerals supply chains that are key to the production of high-tech military and consumer products.

The meeting will come as Washington has been stepping up cooperation with allies and partners to address supply chain vulnerabilities and risks in the face of China's growing clout over critical minerals, including rare earth elements.

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