South Korea remains in talks with the U.S. over contentious issues, including visa restrictions and auto tariffs, the Asian nation’s top trade negotiator said, underscoring the economic stakes as Seoul works to ease frictions with Washington.

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo returned from Washington after meeting U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and key members of Congress to press for progress in talks, he told reporters upon arriving in Incheon on Friday.

Yeo said he urged swift resolution of visa issues facing Korean workers in the U.S., after more than 300 employees were detained earlier this month at a battery plant under construction in Georgia. The employees were released and returned home last week, but the immigration swoop has strained ties between the two countries and cast doubt over the future of a big investment pledge South Korea made under the new trade deal reached in July.

Separately, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told reporters Friday that South Korea is working to resolve visa uncertainties with the U.S. as part of broader efforts to protect Korean businesses from mounting trade risks. He said the issues related to the 90-day visa waiver program and B-1 visas will be addressed through a working group, with discussions covering possible new visa categories or a dedicated visa desk.

“This is not a prerequisite for Korean investment in the U.S., but it is a very important issue in practice,” Cho said. “We’ll do our utmost to ensure that the visa problem is resolved in some way before substantial investments begin.”

On trade, Cho stressed that Seoul is pushing for a swift resolution to avoid a 25% tariff on Korean automobiles, and made clear to Washington that some of its proposals could place an excessive burden on Korean citizens.

The broad agreement set a 15% tariff on Korean goods, which was reaffirmed by their leaders at a White House summit last month. But finalizing the accord has been difficult, with the two sides divided over how to structure and implement a $350 billion investment package, which is central to the deal.

He declined to provide details, citing the sensitivity of the talks, but stressed that both sides recognize the gravity of the matter.

Uncertainty over auto tariffs also lingers as President Donald Trump has yet to sign the executive order lowering the rate to 15%. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Japan have already ironed out their trade deal, which formed the basis for the South Korean pact, resulting in the lowering of tariffs on Japanese cars and auto parts, putting Korean automakers at a disadvantage while the Washington-Seoul talks remain unresolved.

Yeo said Seoul recognizes the seriousness of the issue and is making its “utmost efforts” to find a solution, emphasizing to U.S. counterparts that Korea’s situation differs from Japan’s with supporting data and analysis. Outreach efforts will continue with lawmakers and other decision-makers in Washington, he added.

“These are matters that go directly to the national interest,” Yeo told reporters, adding that disclosing details of the talks could undermine Seoul’s efforts. “We’re doing our best with the national interest as our top priority.”

SOUTH AFRICA

South African trade officials have held talks with their U.S. counterparts in Washington, reports said Friday, as Africa’s largest economy looks to repair strained relations and negotiate the lifting of heavy tariffs imposed by the United States.

South Africa’s department of trade, industry and competition said the country’s Trade Minister Parks Tau and Greer held “cordial and constructive” talks following three days of intense discussions by senior officials from both countries.

There was no immediate word on the outcome of the talks. The South African ministry said they established a “roadmap” that will be prioritized in future talks.

Relations between South Africa and the U.S. have deteriorated since Trump took office earlier this year. Since then, the U.S. has frozen key development aid to South Africa and expelled Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, after he publicly criticized the Trump administration and its policies.

Trump has also criticized South Africa’s stance over the Israel-Hamas war, which has seen the country take Israel to the International Court of Justice and accuse it of committing genocide in Gaza.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has unsuccessfully tried to preempt Washington’s 30% levy on South African imports. The tariff rate is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and could cause tens of thousands of job losses at a time when South Africa’s economy is barely growing and unemployment is stuck above 30%.

In contrast to Ramaphosa’s tense moment in May in the Oval Office, when he was confronted with baseless claims of the systematic killing of white farmers in South Africa, Tau complimented Greer for his availability and readiness to interact with the South African team in a “constructive manner.”

The U.S. remains one of South Africa’s most important economic and investment partners, with $15.1 billion in bilateral trade in 2024. South Africa’s exports to the U.S. totaled $8.2 billion in 2024, while U.S. imports into South Africa totaled $6.9 billion, according to the trade ministry.

Information for this article was contributed by Heesu Lee of Bloomberg (WPNS) and by Michelle Gumede of The Associated Press.