South Korea's industry minister requested a tariff exemption in talks with the U.S. administration, Seoul's industry ministry said on Saturday, as Washington moves forward with plans to impose new tariffs.

Request made by South Korean industry minister in meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington, DC - Anadolu Ajansı

South Koreas industry minister, Ahn Duk-geun, has urged the U.S. to grant tariff exemptions during trade talks in Washington, as the Biden administration moves forward with new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

South Korea's exports barely grew in February, missing market expectations, with demand in key markets hurt amid a global trade war triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Outbound shipments from Asia's fourth-largest economy stood at $52.

South Korean officials have asked the Trump administration to exclude their country from U.S. plans to impose aggressive tariffs on trade partners, emphasizing that Seoul is already applying low duties on American products under the free trade agreement between the two nations.

South Korea has asked the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to exclude the country from proposed tariffs, citing an existing free trade agreement and low import duties, Seoul's Trade Ministry said Friday.

South Korea’s exports contracted in February in another worrying sign for the trade-reliant economy at a time when officials are scrambling to engage the US in hopes of averting a hit from Donald Trump’s tariff campaign.

South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun has filed a request with the U.S. government to exclude South Korea from its new tariff plans while discussing expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields,