US President Donald Trump received a lavish welcome from South Korea, which showered him with gifts and praise during his visit, as the two countries continue to work on a softer trade deal. A gold medal and crown were presented to Trump by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in a ceremony that included a special lunch menu featuring US-raised beef and a choreographed display of colourful flags.
Despite progress being made on key issues, no agreement has been signed yet. The framework includes gradual investments, cooperation on shipbuilding, and the lowering of tariffs on South Korea's automobile exports, according to Kim Yong-beom, Lee's chief of staff for policy. The two countries have agreed to keep reciprocal tariffs at 15 percent, which is currently in place since August.
The talks have been proceeding "a little bit more slowly" than expected, with negotiations stalled on matters such as the structure of investments and how profits will be distributed. However, Trump seemed pleased with the progress, saying that "we made our deal pretty much finalised."
South Korea's economy is seen as a crucial factor in the talks, with Lee warning against trade barriers during a business forum before Trump's visit. The country has been hesitant to invest directly in the US due to concerns over its own economic stability.
The lavish welcome from South Korea may be seen as an attempt by Lee to soften Trump's stance on trade, which is often described in predatory terms. However, some risks for South Korea remain, particularly with regards to its immigration policies and trade agreements.
Trump's visit has been part of a broader effort to tie up trade deals during his Asia tour, with stops in Japan, Malaysia, and China. The Republican president has been trying to show that his confrontational approach on tariffs is paying dividends for Americans who are uneasy about the job market.
In China, Trump is expected to hold a closely watched meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where both sides have indicated a willingness to dial down tensions over trade. However, the details of the deal remain unclear, and it's not yet known what concessions each side will make.
Despite progress being made on key issues, no agreement has been signed yet. The framework includes gradual investments, cooperation on shipbuilding, and the lowering of tariffs on South Korea's automobile exports, according to Kim Yong-beom, Lee's chief of staff for policy. The two countries have agreed to keep reciprocal tariffs at 15 percent, which is currently in place since August.
The talks have been proceeding "a little bit more slowly" than expected, with negotiations stalled on matters such as the structure of investments and how profits will be distributed. However, Trump seemed pleased with the progress, saying that "we made our deal pretty much finalised."
South Korea's economy is seen as a crucial factor in the talks, with Lee warning against trade barriers during a business forum before Trump's visit. The country has been hesitant to invest directly in the US due to concerns over its own economic stability.
The lavish welcome from South Korea may be seen as an attempt by Lee to soften Trump's stance on trade, which is often described in predatory terms. However, some risks for South Korea remain, particularly with regards to its immigration policies and trade agreements.
Trump's visit has been part of a broader effort to tie up trade deals during his Asia tour, with stops in Japan, Malaysia, and China. The Republican president has been trying to show that his confrontational approach on tariffs is paying dividends for Americans who are uneasy about the job market.
In China, Trump is expected to hold a closely watched meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where both sides have indicated a willingness to dial down tensions over trade. However, the details of the deal remain unclear, and it's not yet known what concessions each side will make.
, especially w/ that american-raised beef lunch menu 
... but seriously, it's all about the benjamins. trade deals r a big deal, and i dont think we know half the details yet 
. china's gonna be a whole different story tho... xijinping's not exactly known for being nice to usa 
! i mean, they gave him a gold medal and crown 
which is already makin me LOL. but seriously, its kinda sus how lee Jae myung is tryin to sweet-talk trump into signin a trade deal 
. like south korea's economy is super important 2 the talks tho, and they dont wanna invest in the us cuz of their own econ stability worries 
.
. esp since china's been pretty chill w/ him on trade so far. fingers crossed we dont get a trade war 
.
. Like, yeah, South Korea gave Trump all these fancy gifts and stuff, but at the same time, they're still trying to get him to agree on some trade deals that might actually help them out in the long run 
.
. Trump is known for being super tough on trade, and if South Korea starts to invest more in the US, might that help balance out their own economy? 
Or will it just lead to more problems down the line? 
. I mean, come on, man! You can't just wave a magic wand and make trade deals happen overnight 
.
. It's like they're trying to butter him up so he'll sign that trade deal 
. But hey, if it works out for America and Korea, then I'm all for it 
. Just hope it doesn't come at the expense of our own economic stability 
It feels like they're trying too hard to placate him, and it might just come across as insincere. And let's be real, the fact that Trump is making a big deal out of this visit seems like a pretty obvious attempt to boost his ego 
. It's all about the tariffs and investments, you know?
"
That's a lot of gifts! But seriously, it's interesting that Lee Jae Myung is trying to soften Trump's stance on trade with such a lavish welcome. Like, what's next? A parade? 
How long does it take to come up with a trade deal? 
. And what's up with Trump saying it's "pretty much finalized"? That sounds like a major red flag to me 