Officials: US 'Keen to Nail Down' South Korea Deal
The Trump administration signaled that it doesn't expect to have a signing ceremony of a trade framework with South Korea while the president is there in the coming days for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
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In a background call with reporters, a senior U.S. official said that those conversations are really being led by the Department of Commerce. (The U.S. trade representative and treasury secretary traveled to Asia ahead of the president, but not Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.)
"We are very keen to nail down a deal with Korea as soon as possible, as soon as they're willing to take the commitments that we think are appropriate," the U.S. official said.
Another senior U.S. official traveling with the delegation said that they hope to be able to announce more details on Korean investment in the U.S. shipbuilding sector shortly.
"We welcome their know-how, their capital," the person said, and their collaboration in reviving the industry.
India's prime minister is not traveling to the meetings, and the officials were asked if that means negotiations are faltering.
A U.S. official said reporters should not assume that by his absence. "We are moving forward on trade discussions with them essentially at the pace of India's ambition, which is not always super speedy," the official said.