Cancellation of Korea-US '2+2 Meeting'... "US Secretary Besant's Urgent Schedule, Rescheduling Soon"

[Financial News]   The '2+2 Trade Consultation' between South Korea and the United States, scheduled to be held on the 25th (local time) in Washington, D.C., has been abruptly canceled.  Due to the urgent schedule of US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, it is reported that Korea and the US will reschedule as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced through a press release on the morning of the 24th that "the '2+2 Negotiation' scheduled with the US on the 25th could not be held due to the urgent schedule of US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant."
In the 2+2 trade talks, Deputy Prime Minister Gu and Yeo Han-gu, Head of Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, were to attend from the Korean side, while Secretary Besant and Jamison Greer, the USTR representative, were to attend from the US side.
It is known that the US side did not disclose the exact reason.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance explained, "The US side proposed to hold it as soon as possible, and both Korea and the US plan to schedule it as soon as possible." It continued, "In the postponement request email from the US side, they repeatedly apologized and suggested scheduling as soon as possible."  
Deputy Prime Minister Gu Yoon-chul, who was waiting to depart for the US at Incheon International Airport at 9 AM that day, reportedly received this news.
Kang Young-kyu, spokesperson of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance accompanying Deputy Prime Minister Gu, met with reporters at Incheon International Airport and said, "We haven't been notified for long," and "We received contact from the US side this morning."
Currently, Minister of Industry Kim Jeong-gwan and Head of Trade Negotiations Yeo Han-gu, who have started their visit to the US, are expected to continue contact with their respective counterparts.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance stated, "Consultations with the US by Minister Kim Jeong-gwan and Head Yeo Han-gu are proceeding as originally planned."



spring@fnnews.com Reporter Lee Bo-mi