South Korea hosts Alaska Governor, energy team amid talks of gas pipeline
Alaskan state officials, including the governor, and energy officials will visit South Korea Tuesday amid expectations that talks with U.S. ally countries in Asia can revive a natural gas project that has been stalled.
The main U.S. Business lobby in Seoul announced that the delegation of Governor Mike Dunleavy will include representatives from the Glanfarne Group, which is a partner on the project to transport natural gas from Alaska's remote northern region via a $44-billion pipeline, and the state agency for gas.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea said in a press release that "discussions on expanding energy cooperation between both countries are scheduled."
It said that the officials will meet with senior South Korean officials, as well as leaders of major companies, to discuss key industrial sectors, including energy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
Trump has tried to support the project by calling for South Korea, Japan and Taiwan as they are potential buyers of gas which would be transported via the pipeline of 1,300 km (800 miles).
South Korea has said that it will be actively involved in the discussions about this project.
South Korea is a major exporter to the United States of steel, automobiles, and batteries for electric vehicles. It has been preparing itself to face Trump's plan that will impose tariffs on countries with trade surpluses.
Trump has instructed his team to develop reciprocal tariff plans before early April. He has stated that the average tariff in South Korea is four times greater than the United States.
Seoul has refuted Trump's claim. South Korea's Trade Ministry said that the country's tariff rate for U.S. imported goods was 0.79%, as almost all import duties were eliminated under the first free trade agreement signed in 2007.
Dunleavy’s delegation is expected to remain in South Korea until Wednesday.
AMCHAM announced that meetings were scheduled with South Korea's acting President and Industry Minister, as well as the heads of state gas corporation and the SK, Hanwha and POSCO conglomerates.
The Alaska Governor's Office declined to comment on the governor's schedule. (Reporting from Jack Kim in Seoul, and Tim Kelly in Tokyo. Editing by Ed Davies.)
(source: Reuters)
