美韩领导人会晤无果，特朗普称 7 月贸易协议条款不变，尽管李在明白宫首秀博好感

U.S. President Trump rejected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's lobbying efforts to amend the bilateral tariff agreement, insisting on maintaining the existing arrangement of a 15% tariff on South Korean goods.

According to CCTV reports, on August 25th, U.S. President Trump met with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House. The two sides discussed issues such as North Korea, collective security, and the shipbuilding industry. Trump stated:

I don't mind renegotiating the trade agreement with South Korea, but that doesn't mean they will get anything.

However, Trump emphasized to reporters after the meeting:

We have maintained our position. They will adhere to the agreed-upon agreement.

This means that the trade agreement reached at the end of July will remain unchanged, and South Korea will not be able to obtain more favorable trade conditions. A South Korean spokesperson later stated that the U.S.-South Korea summit failed to reach a consensus.

Political Turmoil and "Charm Offensive"

The meeting took place against a backdrop of dramatic political circumstances.

Earlier on Monday, Trump posted on social media that it seemed a "purge or revolution" was happening in South Korea, and political turmoil might hinder negotiations with Seoul. This led to a risk of the talks breaking down.

However, Lee Jae-myung successfully won Trump's favor through a carefully prepared diplomatic strategy.

The South Korean president first praised Trump's newly renovated Oval Office, calling it "very bright and beautiful, reflecting the dignity of the United States."

Lee also mentioned the Dow Jones Index reaching an all-time high and suggested that if peace were achieved on the Korean Peninsula, Trump could build a building named after him in North Korea. These well-timed compliments effectively eased the tense atmosphere at the beginning of the meeting.

Analysts believe that this friendly gesture indicates that U.S. allies are learning from previous experiences of meeting with Trump. Most of these leaders choose to praise and flatter rather than confront.

When Trump inquired about reports of "the South Korean new government storming churches and breaking into U.S. military bases to gather intelligence," Lee explained that these reports stemmed from the political turmoil before he took office. Trump then stated:

I believe this is a misunderstanding.

Trump referred to Lee as "an excellent representative of South Korea" and expressed, "We 100% support you."

According to CCTV reports, both leaders expressed hope for significant progress on the North Korean issue, with Trump stating his willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again.

Trade Agreement Terms Remain Unchanged, Seeking to Expand Economic Cooperation

Despite Lee Jae-myung's efforts to lobby, Trump clearly rejected any amendments to the trade agreement reached in July.

According to [CCTV reports](https://content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/index.html? On July 31, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung confirmed that South Korea and the United States reached a trade agreement, setting a tariff cap of 15% on U.S. imports of South Korean goods. This rate avoided the higher tariff of 25% that Trump had previously threatened to impose.

However, reports indicate that U.S. officials were dissatisfied with the specific terms of the agreement and sought more detailed information from South Korea regarding its promised $350 billion investment plan in the U.S.

Despite the trade differences, South Korea and the U.S. are actively seeking opportunities to expand economic cooperation.

Trump promised to purchase ships from South Korea, and Lee Jae-myung also confirmed that he noted Trump's desire for South Korea to establish shipyards in the U.S. and hire American workers.

According to previously released information, of the $350 billion investment promised by South Korea, $150 billion will be allocated as a special fund for U.S.-South Korea shipbuilding cooperation.

In addition, Trump also mentioned reaching an agreement with South Korea on the Alaska oil issue. This corresponds with the recent U.S. government's plan to lift environmental protections in certain areas of Alaska established during the Biden administration to allow for oil drilling