Seoul: Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to implementing its trade agreement with the United States in a meeting with visiting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer on Wednesday, Yeo's office said. Yeo met with a U.S. delegation led by Switzer in Seoul to discuss the progress in the countries' efforts to carry out agreements on non-tariff trade barrier issues outlined in a joint fact sheet on their bilateral trade deal finalized in October, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

According to Yonhap News Agency, under the finalized deal, the two countries said they will address non-tariff trade barriers and come up with a plan of action to promote reciprocal trade. Seoul has agreed to eliminate the 50,000-unit cap on U.S.-originating vehicles meeting American safety standards that can enter the country without further modifications, according to the fact sheet. Seoul also agreed to work to ensure that U.S. companies are not discriminated against in terms of laws and policies concerning digital services.

Switzer's trip to Seoul comes amid renewed trade tensions between the two countries sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement last month that he will raise "reciprocal" tariffs and auto duties on Korea back to 25 percent, citing a delay in Seoul's legislative process to implement the trade deal. The Trump administration had lowered such tariffs on Korea to 15 percent following last year's trade agreement.

Seoul has been working to convey the country's commitment to upholding its end of the deal to the U.S., launching a special parliamentary committee to advance a special bill supporting Seoul's US$350 billion investment pledge to the U.S. In Wednesday's meeting, Yeo highlighted Seoul's efforts to implement the trade deal while agreeing with Switzer to convene the Korea-U.S. joint free trade agreement committee in the near future for further consultations on non-tariff issues, the ministry said. "The government will continue close communication with the office of the USTR to stably manage pending trade issues between Korea and the U.S.," Yeo said in a press release.