SEOUL, March 25 (Reuters) – Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy and a team of energy officials are set to visit South Korea on Tuesday. Their trip aims to restart discussions on a stalled natural gas project, originally backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The delegation will include representatives from the Glanfarne Group, a key partner in the $44 billion project, which seeks to transport natural gas from Alaska’s remote north via a 1,300-km pipeline. Officials from the state’s gas agency will also be part of the visit. According to the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), the talks will focus on expanding energy cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea.
The officials plan to meet with senior South Korean leaders and business executives to discuss sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. The gas pipeline project, which could serve as a significant energy source for countries like South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, has been a priority for Trump, who pushed for these nations to become key buyers of the gas.
South Korea has already expressed its intention to actively engage in the project’s discussions. The country, a major exporter of steel, cars, and electric vehicle batteries to the U.S., has also been preparing for potential tariffs. Trump has threatened to impose high tariffs on countries, including South Korea, that maintain trade surpluses with the U.S.
Trump’s administration plans to introduce reciprocal tariffs by early April. The U.S. president has claimed that South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher than the U.S. rate. However, South Korea’s trade ministry has disputed this, stating that its effective tariff rate on U.S. imports is just 0.79%, due to a free trade agreement signed in 2007.
Dunleavy’s delegation is expected to stay in South Korea until Wednesday. Planned meetings include talks with South Korea’s acting president, the industry minister, and leaders from major companies such as SK, Hanwha, and POSCO International. The governor’s office has declined to comment on Dunleavy’s exact schedule.
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