On-point: How to make 2+2 tariff talks with U.S. fruitful?

The South Korea-U.S. 2+2 trade talks on Thursday will be momentous, especially for South Korea, as what Seoul is calling 'consultations' will be the first of their kind since the Trump administration's 90-day tariff pause.

We discuss more with Professor Park Minjung this morning.

Good morning.

1. Can we expect some sort of a concrete outcome from the 2+2 meeting?

Or will it be more of a pre-game where the two sides let each other know what they want and what they can offer?

Because it's the first round of such talks?

What makes you think so?

2. An expert I spoke to said that it would be a good sign if Trump shows up at discussions on Thursday because Trump is favoring countries like South Korea and Japan.

What's your take on this?

Do you also think so?

3. Trump is waging this tariff war on the U.S. trade deficit.

Will South Korea's shipbuilding and LNG be enough as leverage to resolve tariff issues?

Or are they enough for now?

4. Would you say it's a relief that a new administration will be launched in South Korea in June?

Because we can buy time in the meantime?

Or are we still running out of time?

5. The Trump administration is busier than ever carrying out tariff talks with countries around the world.

Does the 90-day tariff pause give enough time to conduct talks with more than 70 countries realistically?

Will the pause be extended? Or no?

Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us.

We appreciate it.