Trump seemingly hints at withdrawing US forces from South Korea due to KORUS FTA dispute

Posted on : 2018-03-17 16:21 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
White House official denies that such a measure is seriously being considered
US President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump made remarks hinting at a possible withdrawal of US Forces Korea if trade negotiations with South Korea do not go his way, the Washington Post reported on Mar. 15.

“We have a very big trade deficit with them [South Korea], and we protect them,” Trump was quoted in the article as saying at a Mar. 14 fundraising dinner in Missouri, according to a recording acquired by the newspaper.

“We lose money on trade, and we lose money on the military [USFK]. We have right now 32,000 soldiers on the border between North and South Korea. Let’s see what happens,” he was also reported as saying.

The newspaper interpreted the remarks as tying the trade negotiations to the USFK issue, hinting that the military might be pulled out if Trump does not get what he wants in trade talks with South Korea.

Trump has made calls for abandonment or renegotiation of the South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), which he has called unfair. South Korean and US delegations met in Washington on Mar. 15 for renegotiations on the agreement.

In the speech text reported by the Washington Post, Trump raised the issue of trade deficits with China and major allies besides South Korea, including the EU, Japan, and Canada, which he accused of “ripping off the United States for decades.” He also accused South Korea of “taking advantage of outdated trade rules” despite having a strong economy and Japan of denying US auto companies access to its consumers.

During the speech, Trump also talked about his decision to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which he said would be a historic event, while presenting himself as performing far better than his predecessors as US President. He further quoted members of a South Korean special envoy’s delegation as saying Kim had agreed to a summit and pledged not to carry out nuclear or missile testing beforehand because of Trump’s own influence.

Following the remarks, US news outlets reported them as Trump’s threat to withdraw USFK if trade negotiations do not go his way.

Noting that the South Korean government had refrained from commenting, CNN noted that reports on the markets emerged a few hours before the South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs was to arrive in Washington to discuss talks between Trump and Kim.

In response, the White House said Trump had never implied USFK’s withdrawal, Voice of America (VOA) reported on Mar. 16. VOA quoted an anonymous White House official as saying Trump had never suggested the withdrawal of USFK, while adding that Trump’s intended message was that the administration is focused on renegotiating US trade and investment agreements to improve the situation for US workers.

By Park Min-hee, staff writer

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