정치

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State advises Korea to leverage shipbuilding in tariff talks with U.S.

입력 2025.04.24 17:28

Jung Hee-wan

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell delivers a keynote speech at the “Asan Plenum 2025,” hosted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on April 23. Yonhap News

On April 23, Kurt Campbell, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, advised Korea to leverage its shipbuilding industry in future tariff negotiations with the Donald Trump administration.

Speaking during a keynote address at the “Asan Plenum 2025” hosted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Campbell said, “From the U.S. perspective, it would be beneficial to increase investment in places that need help. A good example of this is shipbuilding.”

Campbell most recently served in the Joe Biden administration as Deputy Secretary of State and was previously Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs under President Barack Obama, where he helped design the U.S.' strategic “Pivot to Asia” policy.

“The U.S. is struggling in both the commercial and military shipbuilding sectors,” Campbell said, “If Korea, with its strong shipbuilding capabilities, provides assistance, the partnership could be further strengthened.” He added, “Using shipbuilding as a negotiation channel and expanding to other areas could help establish a clear direction.” Korea and The U.S. are scheduled to hold a “2+2 Trade Dialogue” in Washington on April 24 (local time) to discuss tariff negotiations.

Commenting on U.S.-China relations, Campbell emphasized the need for diplomatic efforts from both sides, saying, “Both sides must show a willingness to find ways to engage diplomatically,” and, “A diplomatic environment should be created where dialogue is possible not only in military affairs but also in the economic domain.” The U.S. and China have been locked in a standoff, imposing tariffs and reciprocal tariffs on each other.

At the same event, Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul remarked during his congratulatory speech, “It is an open secret that no country in the region wants to be forced to choose between the U.S. and China,” adding, “No nation hopes to see the U.S.-China strategic competition evolve into a zero-sum game.” He continued, “Our engagement with China aligns with U.S. interests in various respects. Such engagement is even more in line with the goal of preventing great power conflict in the 21st century.”

Cho expressed concern over the global order reverting to “great power politics” since the launch of the Trump administration, saying, “History has taught us the devastating consequences when great powers turn a blind eye to the common good and pursue their own interests.

정치 많이 본 기사

Drawing on the lesson, Cho said, the postwar international order led by the U.S. was established and that “Korea has been one of the primary beneficiaries of that order.”

Cho concluded, “Today’s international climate evokes the grim interwar period dominated by overt nationalism and zero-sum logic. The noble ideal of preventing war must never be forgotten.” He added, “I trust that the new government in Korea will clearly recognize that a ‘post-post-Cold War’ order cannot, and should not, be shaped by coalitions of great powers.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.