DISCREPANCY IN TACKLING TRUMP TARIFFS

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Tuesday May 27th here in Seoul.

I'm Min Sunhee.

Consultation or confrontation?

These are the two main choices that countries have to approaching U.S. tariffs.

And here in this part of the world South Korea and Japan look to be opting for different strategies despite hopes for the same result that is lower U.S. import duties.

For more I have Lee Ji-hoon with Reuters here in the studio.

Ji-hoon welcome back.

I also have Andrew Salmon with The Washington Times joining this session virtually.

Andrew it's great to have you on.

1) Andrew, let's begin with an article that you wrote against the backdrop of the APEC trade ministers' meeting that took place in Korea about a fortnight ago.

You compared Seoul and Tokyo's respective responses to Mr. Trump's tariffs, claiming Seoul is talking "quietly" and Japan is talking "tough".

Let's begin with your thoughts regarding Seoul's response.

2) Andrew, with regard to Tokyo's response to U.S. tariffs, you underscored Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato's remarks about "Japanese holdings of 1.3 TRILLION U.S. dollars worth of U.S. Treasuries."

Do explain the relevance of this reality, and do see Mr. Trump caving in?

3) Meanwhile Ji-hoon, back here in Korea, there has been talk about the need for more time by the liberal party candidate to allow for a productive tariff deal.

Do tell us more.

4) Andrew, allegedly angered by the pace of tariff talks with the EU, Trump last week announced a 50-percent tariff on the EU starting June First, which he, then, pushed to July 9th.

Do you expect a similar threat against South Korea if talks are prolonged, and if so, are we well positioned to navigate such a potential escalation in trade tensions?

5) Ji-hoon, the conservative party candidate has suggested he is open to defense cost-sharing talks with the U.S.

Do fill us in.

6) Andrew, some critics have cautioned against linking the tariff campaign to regional defense, citing the potential negative impact on America's image as a reliable security partner.

What have you been hearing?

7) Ji-hoon, let's focus a bit on the latest impact of U.S. tariffs on the South Korean economy.

I hear exports during the first three weeks of May were down.

What more can you tell us, and what support measures by the government are in place?

8) Andrew, what do you believe is Mr. Trump's endgame with regard to tariffs?

I mean, what do you suppose is he seeking to achieve?

9) Ji-hoon, we have some time left, so let's touch upon the tariff threats facing smartphones.

Trump wants a bite out of Apple and Samsung is facing a similar scenario.

How does this reality look to affect the two smartphone makers?

10) Andrew, aside from bombarding these two businesses, Mr. Trump's Oval Office receptions of foreign leaders are raising international eyebrows following his earlier exchange with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenksyy and his most recent interaction with South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.

What potential ambush might a South Korean leader face keeping in mind the status quo as we speak?

All right.