韩媒：韩美启动第二轮关税谈判，但谈判前景并不乐观

Core Points - The second round of tariff negotiations between South Korea and the United States began on June 20 in Washington, focusing on key issues such as "reciprocal tariffs," non-tariff barriers, and trade imbalances [1][2] - This round of talks is significant as it occurs under the backdrop of the Trump administration's "America First" strategy and is seen as a test of the new and old policy directions of both countries [1] - The negotiations are expected to cover six major areas, including balanced trade, non-tariff barriers, economic security, digital trade, rules of origin, and improvement of the business environment [1] South Korea's Position - South Korea is particularly concerned about the 25% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports of steel, aluminum, and certain automotive products, which are framed under the "reciprocal tariffs" policy [2] - The South Korean delegation aims to negotiate significant tariff reductions from the U.S. by leveraging strategic industry cooperation and increasing U.S. product imports as bargaining chips [2] - The South Korean government emphasizes the importance of strategic industry collaboration in sectors like shipbuilding and semiconductors within the Indo-Pacific region to persuade the U.S. [2] U.S. Position - The U.S. has expressed a desire for South Korea to eliminate various non-tariff barriers, including restrictions on beef imports lasting over 30 months [2] - U.S. Treasury Secretary has warned that trade partners lacking sincerity in tariff negotiations may face the reinstatement of previously announced "reciprocal tariffs" [2] - There is uncertainty regarding whether the U.S. will accept South Korea's proposed timeline for reaching a framework agreement before the July 8 tariff buffer period expires [2] Political Context - The upcoming South Korean presidential election on June 3 adds urgency to the negotiations, as achieving a favorable outcome in tariff discussions is viewed as a key measure of the current government's economic diplomacy effectiveness [2]