Article body
The United States is pressuring South Korea to commit to more than the $350 billion it initially agreed to invest as part of their bilateral tariff deal, a lawmaker stated on Tuesday, citing a report from the trade ministry.
Seoul made the $350 billion investment pledge in late 2025 in exchange for the US lowering its reciprocal tariffs on South Korea. The investment package consists of a $200 billion investment in strategic industries and another $150 billion in the US shipbuilding industry.
In the latest round of negotiations regarding the $200 billion investment package, the US focused on three major energy infrastructure projects: a large natural gas plant in Texas, a nuclear reactor program, and the development of a natural gas pipeline in Alaska, according to the lawmaker.
"Negotiators are making last-minute adjustments on whether to invest in only two out of the three major projects, or to adjust the investment amount for each of the three projects," the lawmaker noted, adding that the total investment demanded by the US for all three projects would exceed $200 billion.
The government is reportedly seeking to finalize its talks with the US and hold a closed-door briefing at the National Assembly next Thursday before signing an agreement with the US as early as next Friday.