[On-point] Korean officials prepare for what will likely be last round of negotiations before Aug. 1 trade deadline

As we just heard, Korean officials are now preparing for what will likely be the last round of negotiations, before the trade deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump ends this week.

For more on this, we're joined by Professor Hur Joon-young, Associate Professor of Economics at Sogang University.

South Korean officials were still unable to reach a deal after recent trade talks in Washington. What would you say is the biggest obstacle to an agreement?

The talks on July 31st are expected to be Korea's last chance to negotiate with the Trump administration before the August 1 deadline. How do you think the negotiations will play out?

It seems South Korea is looking to use shipbuilding and semiconductors as leverage in the negotiations. Do you think this strategy will work?

The presidential office says agricultural products are now also on the table --despite earlier government claims to the contrary. Is there a possibility that livestock products such as beef imports could become part of the deal?

What happens if the two sides fail to reach an agreement before the deadline? How might that affect Korean businesses and the broader economy --especially given Korea's dependence on the U.S. market?

Alright Professor Hur, thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.