South Korean officials have asked the Trump administration to exclude their country from U.S. plans to impose aggressive tariffs on trade partners, emphasizing that Seoul is already applying low duties on American products under the free trade

South Korean officials have requested an exemption from U.S. reciprocal, steel and aluminium tariffs during their visit this week to Washington, the industry ministry said in a statement on Friday.

South Korea is seeking to implement tariffs on some Chinese steel and producers on concerns over an influx of cheaper products flooding the market, following a similar measure from the Trump administration.