Washington Talks Focus on Trade Delay and Tariff Risk South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrived in Washington on Feb. 3, 2026 and met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain Seoul’s legislative timeline for the pending bilateral trade pact and to seek U.S. understanding of the delay [1][2][3]. The discussion emphasized the eight‑day deadline set by President Donald Trump, who warned of raising reciprocal tariffs on Korean autos, lumber and pharmaceuticals [1][2][3]. Cho reiterated that the ruling Democratic Party’s special bill, submitted in November, is intended to satisfy the investment commitments required by the agreement [1][2][3].

Trump’s Tariff Threat Targets Key Korean Exports President Trump announced he would increase tariffs on South Korean goods from the current 15 % to 25 % if Seoul does not expedite the trade‑deal legislation [1][2][3]. The threatened hike applies specifically to automobiles, lumber and pharmaceutical products, reflecting Washington’s leverage over the stalled parliamentary process [1][2][3]. The warning was delivered a week before Cho’s Washington visit, intensifying pressure on Seoul to demonstrate progress [1][2][3].

$350 Billion Investment Pledge Links to Tariff Reduction Under the bilateral agreement, South Korea has pledged to invest US$350 billion in the United States, a commitment designed to secure a reduction of U.S. tariffs on Korean exports from 25 % back to 15 % [1][2][3]. Cho used the meeting to assure U.S. officials that the investment target remains realistic and on schedule, aiming to allay doubts about Seoul’s ability to meet its obligations [1][2][3]. Both sides framed the investment‑tariff linkage as a cornerstone of the broader economic partnership [1][2][3].

Critical Minerals Ministerial Aims to Diversify Supply Chains Rubio will host an inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on Feb. 4, 2026, which Cho will attend alongside other allied ministers [1][2][3]. The forum seeks to strengthen cooperation on rare‑earth and other critical mineral supply chains, explicitly targeting China’s dominance in the sector [1][2][3]. Participants intend to coordinate policies that ensure secure access to minerals vital for high‑tech and defense applications [1][2][3].

Uranium Enrichment Cooperation Discussed Separately The talks also covered U.S. support for South Korea’s civilian uranium enrichment and spent‑fuel reprocessing ambitions, as outlined in a joint fact sheet released in November [1][2][3]. Cho downplayed any possibility that the trade‑delay issue would be linked to nuclear cooperation, indicating that the two topics remain distinct [3]. Both governments expressed interest in expanding peaceful nuclear capabilities while keeping the trade dispute separate [1][2][3].