South Korea and the US will kick off trade negotiations this week as the Asian export powerhouse seeks to persuade Donald Trump’s administration to ease the punitive levies that are starting to bite the economy.

South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo said on Monday he expected trade talks with the United States this week in Washington to be the start of meaningful cooperation, but added that negotiations may not be easy.

In a surprising move, South Korea’s acting president says the country will not fight back against a wave of new U.S. tariffs despite serious concerns from Korean industries. With trade talks set to begin next week,