第一个承认”海湖庄园协议“的国家出现了？韩国确认与美国讨论了外汇政策

Core Viewpoint - The discussions between South Korea and the U.S. regarding the USD/KRW exchange rate have raised market speculation about potential U.S. policies favoring a weaker dollar, impacting trade negotiations and currency valuations [2][4]. Group 1: Meeting Details - South Korean Deputy Finance Minister Choi Ji-young met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Finance Robert Kaproth on May 5 during the 58th Asian Development Bank annual meeting in Milan [1]. - The meeting focused on the USD/KRW market, indicating a collaborative approach to address currency issues [1]. Group 2: Market Reactions - Following the news of the meeting, the dollar fell, with the USD/KRW exchange rate dropping 1.92% to 1396.77, marking a one-week low [2]. - The Korean won has appreciated approximately 5% against the dollar this year amid a generally weak dollar environment [2]. Group 3: Implications of U.S. Policy - Analysts suggest that the discussions may signal a shift in U.S. policy focus from trade to currency, potentially leading to a weaker dollar as a strategy to address perceived economic imbalances [5]. - Concerns have been raised that the Trump administration may encourage countries to sell dollars to mitigate the effects of a strong currency on trade competitiveness [5]. Group 4: Broader Economic Context - The meeting aligns with previous comments from the Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong, who indicated that the rise of Asian currencies, including the won, is partly due to U.S. pressure for currency appreciation [6]. - The discussions may act as a catalyst for further dollar selling, as they could integrate currency policy into bilateral trade negotiations between the U.S. and other economies [5].