(LEAD) S. Korean FM holds talks with Rubio amid renewed tariff tensions

▲ This photo, released by South Korea's foreign ministry, shows Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posing for a photo in Washington on Aug. 22, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (L) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio prior to their talks at the State Department on Feb. 3, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) FM-US visit

(LEAD) S. Korean FM holds talks with Rubio amid renewed tariff tensions

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By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday, as Seoul strives to address President Donald Trump's recent threat to raise "reciprocal" and other tariffs on the Asian country.

The meeting came eight days after Trump threatened 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.

The two sides were expected to discuss 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 would explain to the U.S. side South Korea's ongoing legislative process regarding the trade deal and ask for 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 was also expected to discuss cooperation over Seoul's efforts to secure civil uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing rights for peaceful purposes. 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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