The country’s new president, in office for a little over a month, had just dispatched his senior deputies to Washington to try to work out a trade deal.

Trump said on Monday he would impose the tariff on goods from South Korea starting on August 1, posting a letter to President Lee Jae Myung on his social media platform along with one to Japan's leader.

President Donald Trump on Monday placed a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, citing persistent trade imbalances with the two crucial U.S. allies in Asia

Trump delayed the "reciprocal tariffs" in April, vowing to strike roughly 90 trade deals in 90 days. So far, the White House says it has reached trade agreements with only the United Kingdom and Vietnam, as well as a preliminary accord with China.