South Korea will prepare a trade package that is mutually agreeable with the United States ahead of minister-level meetings planned next week and a U.S. tariff-pause deadline of August 1, the presidential office said on Saturday.

The US and South Korea have discussed creating a fund to invest in American projects as part of a trade deal, similar to an agreement Japan struck Tuesday with President Donald Trump, people familiar with the matter said.

The US is South Korea’s second-largest export destination after China. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Seoul will take a close look at the terms of a U.S.-Japan trade deal, South Korea's industry minister said on Wednesday, holding out the prospect of greater cooperation in the energy and industrial sectors ahead of key trade talks in Washington.