Seoul, March 4
South Korea and the United States have agreed to launch working-level consultative bodies on promoting bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding and energy industries, as well as for discussions on Washington's new tariff scheme, Seoul's industry minister said on Tuesday.
South Korea is the first country to form working-level consultative bodies with the new US administration on tariff negotiations and bilateral cooperation, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun said in a press briefing on his recent visit to Washington, noting the channels will begin operation as soon as possible.
The two sides plan to establish four different channels to discuss shipbuilding collaboration, energy cooperation, which includes South Korea's possible participation in the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, reports news agency.
"Director-level consultative bodies will begin operation this week, and the trade minister could visit Washington to engage in a face-to-face talk with U.S. officials as early as next week," Ahn said, noting that trade officials from South Korea and the U.S. will communicate "almost every day."