SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s Industry Ministry said on Monday it will actively respond to the looming 50% U.S. tariff on steel products as part of the country’s ongoing trade discussions with Washington in order to minimise the impact on industry.
The ministry held an emergency meeting with officials from the country’s major steelmakers, including POSCO and Hyundai Steel, it said in a statement.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he planned to increase tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50% from 25%, ratcheting up pressure on global steel producers and deepening his trade war.
Shares of South Korean steelmakers lost ground on Monday, with Hyundai Steel falling 3% and SeAH Steel Corp down 6.3% in morning trade.
(Reporting by Jack Kim and Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Ed Davies)
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