US-SKorea summit exposes spat on trade, resolve on NKorea
WASHINGTON » President Donald Trump took South Korea to task over its trade surplus with the United States on Friday, demanding renegotiation of a bilateral pact, even as the close security allies voiced joint resolve against the nuclear weapons threat from North Korea.
Trump talked tough on North Korea, vowing to defend America and its allies against its “reckless and brutal regime,” as he concluded two-day of talks with South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in.
But he also spoke bluntly about the 2012 free trade agreement between the two nations that he said was a “rough deal” for America. He called for the lifting of barriers to U.S. auto sales in South Korea and accused Seoul of enabling exports to the U.S. of dumped steel — apparently referring to steel made in China.
“I’m encouraged by President Moon’s assurances that he will work to create a level playing field so that American workers and businesses and especially auto makers can have a fair shake at dealing with South Korea,” Trump said in comments alongside Moon in the Rose Garden of the White House.
Trump said the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea had grown sharply since the pact took effect. The deficit in goods and services totaled $17 billion last year.
Moon glossed over the differences in trade in his comments. He described the U.S.-South Korean economic partnership as a pillar of the alliance — traditionally rooted in the bond forged during the 1950-53 Korean War and the continued presence of 28,000 U.S. forces in South Korea.
Moon said that Trump has accepted his invitation to visit South Korea with the first lady Melania Trump later this year.
Trump called for “fair burden-sharing” by Seoul in paying for the U.S. military presence in South Korea. But there was little divergence apparent between the two leaders on the issue of North Korea. There had been concern that Moon’s pro-engagement stance toward Pyongyang could clash with Trump’s effort to crank up pressure and deepen North Korea’s isolation.