According to the report, South Korea would like to would import more US cars to exchange for amendment in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation of steel duty exemption.

Currently, South Korea had the import quotas by 286 million tons every year, which accounted for 70% of the US steel imports. The steel imports over the quotas would bear a higher import duty.

In return, the South Korean government accepted the demand from the US automakers as the most controversial part of the negotiation. It might request South Korea to allow the US auto imports from 25,000 cars to 50,000 cars. Also, it agreed to set lower standard for automobile’s emission.

From government’s data, South Korea’s car imports to the US rose by 80% since 2011, valued US$18.49 billion, and the automobiles made from the US also rose by 380% to US$1.68 billion.