US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung marked the latest stop of his Asia tour with a ceremony at Gyeongju National Museum in South Korea, where they exchanged gifts that included a gold medal and a crown. The meeting was part of ongoing trade talks between the US and South Korea, which have been aimed at securing investments worth $350 billion.
While Trump claimed progress had been made, no agreement has yet been signed. According to officials, the framework for investment includes gradual funding, cooperation on shipbuilding projects, and lowering of tariffs on automobile exports. However, South Korean officials have expressed reservations about committing large sums of money, citing concerns that it could destabilize their economy.
Lee's administration is more willing to offer loans and guarantees, but Trump insisted that a deal had been "pretty much finalized". Earlier in the day, he softened his rhetoric on international trade, stating that "the best deals are deals that work for everybody".
Despite disagreements on trade, both leaders have praised each other. Lee presented Trump with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea's highest honor, which Trump called "beautiful" and said he'd like to wear immediately. He also received a replica of a royal crown from the Silla Kingdom.
Trump has been working to negotiate trade deals during his Asia trip, seeking to demonstrate that his approach is paying off for Americans anxious about the job market. However, South Korea has been tough to crack due to its resistance to committing large sums of money.
In contrast, Japan has been more cooperative, with a government pledge to deliver $550 billion in investments following a trade agreement earlier this year. Lee warned against trade barriers, citing the need for cooperation and inclusive growth.
Trump is set to hold a closely watched meeting on Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where he will lower tariffs targeting China over the flow of fentanyl ingredients.
While Trump claimed progress had been made, no agreement has yet been signed. According to officials, the framework for investment includes gradual funding, cooperation on shipbuilding projects, and lowering of tariffs on automobile exports. However, South Korean officials have expressed reservations about committing large sums of money, citing concerns that it could destabilize their economy.
Lee's administration is more willing to offer loans and guarantees, but Trump insisted that a deal had been "pretty much finalized". Earlier in the day, he softened his rhetoric on international trade, stating that "the best deals are deals that work for everybody".
Despite disagreements on trade, both leaders have praised each other. Lee presented Trump with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea's highest honor, which Trump called "beautiful" and said he'd like to wear immediately. He also received a replica of a royal crown from the Silla Kingdom.
Trump has been working to negotiate trade deals during his Asia trip, seeking to demonstrate that his approach is paying off for Americans anxious about the job market. However, South Korea has been tough to crack due to its resistance to committing large sums of money.
In contrast, Japan has been more cooperative, with a government pledge to deliver $550 billion in investments following a trade agreement earlier this year. Lee warned against trade barriers, citing the need for cooperation and inclusive growth.
Trump is set to hold a closely watched meeting on Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where he will lower tariffs targeting China over the flow of fentanyl ingredients.
. He's been all over Asia trying to peddle his trade deals, but it seems like nobody's biting 
. South Korea's being super cautious about committing that $350 billion, and Japan's already shown they're more willing to play ball with their $550 billion offer 
. Trump's all talk and no action when it comes to securing those investments 
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. Both leaders are trying to one-up each other with symbolic gestures, but at the end of the day, it's all about getting deals done 
. Trump thinks he's making progress, but I think he's just spinning a web of lies 
.
It seems like he's still playing catch-up with China over fentanyl ingredients... meanwhile, Japan's already got the upper hand 
. I'll believe it when I see it 
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. I mean, what if it doesn't work out? What if South Korea's economy gets hurt? 
I know both leaders want a good deal for their countries, but gotta be careful with that kind of money 
. Trump says they're making progress, but Lee's got some concerns... let's just hope they can get it right 
. And what about Japan being more cooperative? That's interesting 
. More on this later 
. I mean, what exactly does that even mean? Are they trying to spin trade talks in a way that sounds good on paper but doesn't necessarily translate to real action? 
. It's like they're trying to make this whole "$350 billion" thing sound more impressive than it actually is 
...it's all very lavish and extravagant for a trade meeting, if you ask me 
. The gold medal and crown are nice gestures, but what's the real deal here? Are we just making pretty noise to boost morale or actually getting somewhere on those $350 billion investments 
. Still, I'm keeping an eye on Thursday's meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping 
Trump thinks progress has been made, but South Korea is still being cautious about committing big money 
. But at the same time, they need to find ways to cooperate on trade and growth 
.
. I just hope both sides can put aside their differences and work towards something meaningful 
.
. The fact that Lee presented him with a royal crown and all is just a bit too much of a PR stunt for my taste 
. Can't we just focus on actual substance here?