South Korea rules out tariff deal with US before June 3 snap election

Car carriers transporting vehicles made by Kia Motors, which is part of South Korea's biggest automaker company Hyundai Motor, are parked at Pyeongtaek port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, April 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEJONG, South Korea (Reuters) -A senior South Korean government official ruled out on Monday that Seoul would agree to a trade package with Washington by the time the country holds a presidential election on June 3, and flagged challenges to reaching a deal even before early July.

The countries last week agreed to craft a trade package aimed at removing new U.S. tariffs before a pause in reciprocal tariffs is lifted on July 8, Seoul's delegation in Washington said after their first formal tariff talks on Thursday.