Trump Boasts Tariffs Brought South Korea to Negotiating Table — Then Taunts China: ‘We Are Waiting for Their Call’

President Donald Trump boasted Tuesday how his tariff threats had dragged South Korea into negotiations in an online post also taunting China — who he said wanted a deal “badly.”

Trump took to Truth Social to describe a conversation with South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo just ahead of an impending 25% tariff on South Korean exports.

The president wrote:

I just had a great call with the Acting President of South Korea. We talked about their tremendous and unsustainable Surplus, Tariffs, Shipbuilding, large scale purchase of U.S. LNG, their joint venture in an Alaska Pipeline, and payment for the big time Military Protection we provide to South Korea. They began these Military payments during my first term, Billions of Dollars, but Sleepy Joe Biden, for reasons unknown, terminated the deal. That was a shocker to all! In any event, we have the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries. Their top TEAM is on a plane heading to the U.S., and things are looking good.

We are likewise dealing with many other countries, all of whom want to make a deal with the United States. Like with South Korea, we are bringing up other subjects that are not covered by Trade and Tariffs, and getting them negotiated also. “ONE STOP SHOPPING” is a beautiful and efficient process!!!

South Korea confirmed that its trade minister Cheong In-kyo is en route to Washington for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Before departure, Cheong floated increasing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports as part of a package to address a trade imbalance.

Trump continued in his post with a jab at Beijing amid escalating threats of additional 50% tariffs if China does not abandon its own 34% reciprocal levy. Trump finished his message:

China also wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call. It will happen! GOD BLESS THE USA.

The optimistic line came just hours after China’s commerce ministry accused Trump of “blackmail” and his extra 50% tariff a “mistake on top of a mistake.” China promised that it would “resolutely take countermeasures” and pledged to “fight to the end if the U.S. side is bent on going down the wrong path.”