The US is keen to finalise a trade deal with South Korea once Seoul accepts “appropriate” commitments, a senior official said. The two nations are negotiating terms of a $350 billion investment pledge ahead of the Trump-Lee summit in Korea.
Sri Lankan rubber exporters are urging the US to cut Trump-era tariffs to 15–20 per cent to stay competitive with Indonesia. A government delegation is in Washington negotiating relief as the current 30 per cent duty threatens USD300 million in annual exports
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and US Trade Representative Katherine Tie and discussed the progress in bilateral relations, including the trade and economic cooperation and ways to take it forward.
