Seoul: South Korea's top trade negotiator stated that further opening of the Korean rice market was not discussed in the recently concluded trade deal with the United States, contradicting Washington's claim on the politically sensitive issue. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, who also serves as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, made these remarks upon returning from the U.S., where he finalized the deal alongside Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Koo reiterated Seoul's stance on the rice market after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt claimed the trade deal provides market access to American rice, echoing U.S. President Donald Trump's previous assertions. "Rice was not discussed at all (in the trade negotiations)," Koo told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, adding that he will review the U.S. announcement.

The agreement reached on Thursday involved the U.S. lowering its reciprocal tariff rate for South Korea to 15 percent from the initially proposed 25 percent. In return, Seoul pledged to invest US$350 billion in the U.S. economy and purchase $100 billion worth of American liquefied natural gas and other energy products over the next four years.

Rice and beef imports were initially considered key sticking points in tariff negotiations between the two sides, but the trade deal did not address these issues, as per the Seoul government. The U.S. administration had reportedly pressured Seoul to further open its rice and beef markets, raising concerns over Korea's import ban on American beef products from cattle aged 30 months or older.

The presidential office also confirmed that the deal does not include further market opening for farm products, although details on inspection or quarantine procedures would require further negotiations and coordination between the two countries. "We have already opened 99.7 percent of our agricultural and livestock markets, and it is our position that there will be no additional opening for the remaining 0.3 percent, and that stands," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated. "It seems there may have been some misunderstanding on the U.S. side."