Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and Republic of Korea Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina met in Washington to conduct the U.S.-ROK Senior Economic Dialogue (SED). The meeting reaffirmed commitments from previous presidential summits held in Washington and Gyeongju, which focused on modernizing the alliance between the United States and South Korea. Both officials noted their anticipation for the upcoming ROK-U.S. Joint Public-Private Economic Forum scheduled for December 16 in Seoul.
During the SED, participants reviewed progress on a Strategic Trade and Investment deal that includes $350 billion in investment aimed at supporting U.S. reindustrialization. This agreement is seen as central to advancing cooperation on trade, energy security, shipbuilding, and new technologies. Discussions also covered investments by Korean government and private sector entities in American manufacturing, as well as ongoing efforts to ease business travel between the two countries through initiatives like the U.S.-ROK Business Travel and Visas Working Group.
Helberg and Kim stressed the need to enhance joint economic security measures and ensure reliable supply chains. They explored ways to align economic and national security strategies, address unfair trade practices, and strengthen collaboration on critical minerals. The Under Secretary recognized South Korea’s leadership role in promoting resilient supply chains at both regional and international levels.
The dialogue also included discussions on leveraging industrial competitiveness to help restore economic stability in conflict zones, referencing President Trump’s achievements related to peace efforts.
This meeting marked the tenth SED session, highlighting what both sides describe as the enduring importance of their alliance for shaping a secure Indo-Pacific region.
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