Trump Trip Could Determine Direction of KORUS Talks

Trade analysts believe President Donald Trump's trip to Seoul, South Korea, may go beyond North Korean-related security issues and help determine the direction of talks to amend the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).Trump arrives in the South Korean capital Nov. 7 tomorrow to meet with President Moon Jae-in for the second leg of his five-nation swing through East Asia, and the visit is likely be dominated by a defense-laden agenda.On the sidelines, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong will discuss the next step in the thorny issue of KORUS. "There's a possibility that Trump will mention the need to cut the U.S. trade deficit" with South Korea, Kim said during a parliamentary audit October 31. But Kim said he does not expect the U.S. president to bring up specific sectors such as auto and steel.