SZAP(SZ:000061) Huan Qiu Wang·2025-08-02 08:52Core Points - The trade agreement between the U.S. and South Korea has led to conflicting statements regarding the opening of agricultural markets, particularly concerning rice and beef [1][3][5] - South Korean officials assert that there was no discussion about opening the rice market, contradicting U.S. claims of significant market access for American rice [3][5] Group 1: Trade Agreement Details - The U.S. announced on July 30 that it reached a trade agreement with South Korea, but there are discrepancies in the details regarding agricultural market access [1] - South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol emphasized that the U.S. acknowledged the sensitivity of South Korean agriculture and agreed not to further open the market [1] Group 2: Conflicting Statements - U.S. President Trump stated that South Korea would open its agricultural market, while White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt described the market access for U.S. rice as "historic" [3] - South Korean officials, including the presidential spokesperson and the Minister of Agriculture, denied these claims, suggesting they were politically motivated [5] Group 3: Domestic Reactions - Following the trade agreement, there is a perception in South Korea that the government made excessive concessions, potentially leading to significant losses [5] - Experts have noted that despite the U.S. maintaining tariff levels comparable to those with Japan and the EU, the agreement is still seen as disadvantageous for South Korea, which should have benefited from lower tariffs under the existing free trade agreement [5]