South Korea’s trade negotiator Yeo Han-koo met with senior U.S. officials in Washington on Sunday in his first overseas trip since taking office under President Lee Jae-myung. According to the industries ministry, Yeo held ministerial-level talks with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to convey South Korea’s concerns over U.S. tariff measures and to propose mutually beneficial alternatives. Yeo also met with key members of Congress to request stable legislative support for South Korean investors operating under the Inflation Reduction Act and other U.S. industrial policy frameworks.

The visit comes as South Korea seeks exemptions from U.S. tariffs. In parallel, Seoul will hold the third round of technical consultations with the USTR from Tuesday through Thursday, led by Park Jeong-seong, a senior trade official recently elevated to chief negotiator under a newly formed task force. The consultations will explore viable alternatives on bilateral trade issues, with participation from related ministries and agencies.