South Korea, Vietnam pledge cooperation as US tariffs loom

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (left) and Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) during a meeting at the Government Office in Hanoi on April 16, 2025. - AFP

SEOUL: South Korea and Vietnam said on Wednesday they agreed to cooperate closely, after the announcement of US tariffs that pose a major challenge for both economies and for companies like Samsung Electronics with big investments in Vietnam.

Vietnam's foreign ministry said the two countries are seeking to raise bilateral trade to US$150 billion by 2030, in a "more balanced and sustainable manner".