Trump Says South Korea Agrees to Accept Deportees, Halting Tariffs
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will withhold planned tariffs on South Korea after Seoul agreed to accept deportees from the U.S. This marks significant progress in Washington's long-standing effort to resolve the issue of illegal immigration. The U.S. had made South Korea's agreement to accept its citizens a key condition for lifting the tariffs.
In a statement, President Trump said he "deeply appreciates the difficult decision made by the South Korean government," emphasizing that the agreement was the result of lengthy negotiations between the two countries. He added, "This agreement is a win-win outcome that serves not only the interests of the United States but also the interests of South Korea." The decision is expected to further strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
The United States previously suspended tariff impositions in similar negotiations with Colombia. At that time, the U.S. withdrew the tariffs after Colombia promised to actively cooperate in accepting deportees. The U.S. has been demanding that several countries, including Colombia, accept deportees to resolve the issue of illegal immigration, and has resorted to the strong-arm tactic of imposing tariffs on countries exhibiting a passive attitude.
The Colombian government also pledged active cooperation in accepting deportees following pressure from the U.S., leading the U.S. to suspend tariff impositions on Colombia. The U.S. government stated that it intends to continuously strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, as Colombia has promised to actively cooperate in accepting deportees. This decision is expected to further solidify relations between the U.S. and Colombia and have a positive impact on trade and investment.
Analysts suggest that the agreement with South Korea puts the U.S. in a more favorable position in deportation negotiations with other countries. The U.S. can now exert similar pressure on other countries using the South Korea agreement as leverage, and is expected to accelerate efforts to resolve the issue of illegal immigration.
While South Korea avoided the worst-case scenario of U.S. tariffs through this agreement, it now faces the new challenge of accepting its deported citizens. The South Korean government will need to establish concrete plans for accepting deportees and strive to minimize social disruption. There is growing concern that programs to support the social reintegration of deportees are urgently needed.
The South Korean government is also expected to seek ways to offset the economic burden of this agreement by strengthening economic cooperation with the U.S. Efforts to attract U.S. investment in South Korea and expand the entry of South Korean companies into the U.S. market will become increasingly important. The South Korean government is expected to strive to maximize the positive effects of this agreement and minimize the negative impacts through strengthened economic cooperation with the U.S.
Some have criticized the South Korean government for succumbing to U.S. pressure and reaching an unfavorable agreement. However, the government has stated that it pursued this agreement with the national interest as its top priority. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in connection with this announcement, "We were able to reach an amicable agreement through close consultation with the United States," adding, "We will continue to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and work to promote our common interests."
The South Korean government plans to establish procedures and support measures for accepting its citizens deported from the U.S. and strengthen programs for social reintegration. In addition, it will continue to consult with the U.S. government to minimize social conflicts caused by the deportation issue. The government stated that it is fully prepared for the various problems that may arise during the deportation process and will seek reasonable solutions by gathering opinions from all segments of society.
This agreement is the result of diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea and is expected to have a positive impact on relations between the two countries. However, internal discussion and consensus within South Korean society on the sensitive issue of accepting deportees will be necessary. The government emphasized that it will proceed with discussions on the deportation issue in a transparent and open manner and do its best to seek public understanding and cooperation.
Meanwhile, in connection with this agreement, the U.S. Department of State stated, "We appreciate the cooperation of the South Korean government and will continue to strengthen cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea in various fields." The State Department also added, "This agreement will contribute to promoting U.S. immigration policies more effectively and will help strengthen international cooperation to resolve the issue of illegal immigration."
Following this announcement, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an additional statement, saying, "This agreement is the result of the long-standing friendly relations and mutual trust between the U.S. and South Korea," and "We will continue to strengthen cooperation with the U.S. in various fields to pursue common prosperity." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also added, "We expect that this agreement will contribute to protecting South Korea's national interests and further consolidating the ROK-U.S. alliance."
