The Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) faces significant uncertainty as the Donald Trump administration is set to seek new trade deals with its trading partners.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear on Sunday that the United States will engage in bilateral negotiations on new trade arrangements once its planned reciprocal tariffs take effect on April 2.

His statement reflects on the new U.S. government’s plan to reshape the current trade environment to the U.S.’ advantage.

Rubio did not mention Korea specifically, but the U.S.' eighth-largest trade deficit with Korea suggests that Seoul is likely to enter negotiations with Washington, either for a new trade pact or a revision of the FTA signed in 2007.

History is not in Korea’s favor, as Trump previously pressured Korea into revising the FTA to align with U.S. interests during his first term in 2018.

Last........

© The Korea Times