Trump “Tariffs and defense costs are separate”…Suggests separation of South Korea-US negotiations

President Trump drew a line by stating trade and security are separate (Source: AP)

President Donald Trump of the United States expressed his intention to separate the tariff negotiations and the defense cost issue of the U.S. Forces Korea. He stated that while the U.S. has been bearing the military defense of its allies, it has been treated unfairly in trade, and he drew a line by saying he would not place the two issues on the same line.

President Trump claimed at a press conference held at the White House on the 24th (local time) that “We have been pillaged in a way unprecedented in world history for over 45 years,” adding, “Many countries have gotten rich thanks to the U.S., and we have taken care of their military.” He continued, “There are countries that do not treat us fairly in trade, but military is an issue we need to handle separately,” emphasizing that “This topic will not be discussed together in any negotiations.”

This statement draws attention in conjunction with recent South Korea-U.S. trade consultations. At the ‘2+2 Trade Consultation’ held in Washington D.C. that day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun attended from the South Korean side, and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bethany and senior official of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamison Greer attended from the U.S. side, but no discussion on the defense cost of the U.S. Forces Korea took place.

On the other hand, President Trump, as reported, pointed out to Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's Minister for Economic Revitalization, who visited the White House on the 16th, that “Japan is not sufficiently bearing the cost of stationing U.S. Forces in Japan.” This suggests that responses may vary even among the same allies.

President Trump's statement this time is interpreted as an intention to strategically approach the separation of trade and security issues in future negotiations with allies. As a result, there are forecasts that the defense cost sharing negotiations and tariff negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. are likely to proceed on separate tracks.