Japan and South Korea trade ministers meet to discuss ways to respond to the global trade environment - South Korean media

The trade ministers of Japan and South Korea met ahead of the imposition of reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration in the United States and discussed ways to respond to the global trade environment.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 30th that Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto and Minister of Trade and Industry Ahn Deok-geun held a meeting at the International Conference Hall in the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul.
Minister Muto is visiting Korea to attend the 13th China-Japan-Korea Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to share recognition of the recent rapid changes in the global trade environment and to
In particular, they discussed ways to share information and cooperate on issues that need to be addressed jointly by the two countries, utilizing regional multilateral mechanisms such as those between Japan, the United States, and South Korea, as well as between Japan, China, and South Korea.
The two sides also highly appreciated the active exchanges between the governments and business communities of both countries in key areas such as advanced industries, new energy sources such as hydrogen, and mineral supply chains.
The two countries also agreed to work together to achieve concrete results in the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea.
Major international events being held in both countries this year include the Japan-China Trade and Energy Ministers' Meeting and business events to be held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting.
The two sides agreed to work together to achieve a successful outcome. This was the first trade talks between the two countries in nine months since the last one was held in Washington, D.C. in June 2024.
The meeting was held in the form of a mutual visit, the first in about a year since the last meeting was held in Tokyo in April 2024.