South Korea's Industry Minister has revealed the country is seeking a major U.S. investment package, directly linking the request to the success of ongoing tariff negotiations.
- In a move that formally connects U.S. investment commitments to trade policy, the minister stated that the desired sum would be "smaller than $350 billion", seeks smaller cash portion in $350 billion U.S. investment package for tariff deal
This announcement positions a large-scale U.S. investment deal as a key component for resolving the current tariff disputes between the two nations.
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This news formally links U.S. investment to trade policy, creating uncertainty for South Korean markets. A successful deal could significantly boost the South Korean Won (KRW) and equities, particularly in the tech and auto sectors, by removing tariff risk. However, linking the two raises the stakes; any sign of a breakdown in these high-stakes negotiations could lead to sharp sell-offs in the same assets, as markets would have to price in both failed investment hopes and the resumption of trade tensions.