Unexpected Cancellation Sparks Diplomatic Concerns

The scheduled Korea-U.S. 2+2 trade negotiations in Washington, D.C., on July 25 were abruptly canceled by the U.S. side, leaving South Korean officials scrambling. Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yun-cheol received an email notification just an hour before his departure, postponing the meeting indefinitely.

Behind the Scenes of the Cancellation

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the cancellation was due to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's urgent schedule. The U.S. has proposed to reschedule the talks at the earliest convenience, but the last-minute change has caused visible confusion within the South Korean government.

Trump's Negotiation Tactics Under Scrutiny

This incident has raised concerns about the Trump administration's unilateral diplomacy, especially with the negotiation deadline of August 1 looming. Analysts suggest this could be the start of Trump's "one-way negotiation" strategy, similar to the tough stance taken with Japan in recent trade talks.

Expert Weighs In

Prof. Kim Yang-hee of Daegu University commented, "The U.S. may be attempting to extract more concessions, even at the risk of a diplomatic misstep. South Korea needs to respond with a calm and sophisticated strategy."