• Trump announces a 15% tariff on South Korean imports as part of a new trade deal.
• South Korea commits to investing $350 billion in U.S. projects, selected by Trump.
• South Korea will purchase $100 billion in liquefied natural gas and other energy products.
• The deal aims to level the playing field compared to tariffs from other countries.
• President Lee Jae Myung is set to visit the U.S. for further discussions within two weeks.

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States will impose a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea, marking a significant trade agreement that avoids an even steeper 25% rate he had previously threatened. Trump referred to this as a "full and complete trade deal" which will be followed by further investments to be disclosed during an upcoming meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, set for two weeks from now, according to Channel News Asia.

As part of the agreement, South Korea will invest $350 billion in U.S. projects chosen by Trump, alongside a commitment to purchase $100 billion worth of liquefied natural gas and other energy supplies. This investment is significant for South Korean industries looking to bolster their competitiveness in the U.S. market, reports HuffPost and Reuters.

Trump emphasized that the deal will open South Korean markets to U.S. goods, stating that American products, including cars, trucks, and agricultural goods, will face no tariffs in return. The negotiations come as part of Trump's broader trade strategy, which includes pressures to reach similar agreements with other nations before his self-imposed August 1 deadline, as per CBS News and Al Jazeera.

In a statement, South Korean President Lee stated that the agreement eliminates uncertainties regarding trade and places South Korea on equal footing with its competitors. Experts suggest that while the deal is advantageous, it also highlights the challenges faced by South Korean negotiators in balancing domestic interests with external demands, according to sources including Los Angeles Times and Anadolu Agency.