The government sees a clear window to avert a potential U.S. tariff increase, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Monday, adding that he expects the swift passage of a special bill to implement Korea’s investment package for the United States could persuade Washington to defer the hike. The minister stressed that Seoul is prioritizing passage of the special bill, with bipartisan discussions underway and approval targeted for early March, as it views legislative delays as the key obstacle to easing the trade friction. The National Assembly established a special committee to handle legislation for Seoul’s investment commitment to the U.S. as part of the trade negotiations last year. “The main cause (of the hike threat) is delays in passing the bill,” Kim said during a press briefing at Government Complex Sejong. “If the special bill passes in March, we believe there is a high possibility that the tariff hike could be postponed or withdrawn, since U.S. President Donald Trump cited that issue as the main reason for the increase.” Last month, Trump announced that he would raise tari
