President Trump on Sunday said the U.S. welcomes foreign experts to train Americans how to build high-tech goods, days after hundreds of arrested South Korean workers left the country.
Hundreds of workers were arrested, shackled and hauled off to detention, which provoked national outrage in South Korea.
On Sunday, South Korean media reported that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau had visited the country and “conveyed his deep regrets” for the arrests.
Driving the news: In a lengthy Truth Social post Sunday afternoon, Trump seemed to open the door to foreign workers coming in for training.
What to watch: Whether the departed South Korean workers return to finish the now-delayed plant, and whether Trump’s statement thaws the suddenly icy relations with a crucial partner.
On Sunday, President Trump said the U.S. A. days after hundreds of South Korean workers who had been arrested fled the country, invites foreign professionals to teach Americans how to manufacture high-tech products.
Why it matters: The conflict between the administration’s immigration and economic policies seems to be balancing out in favor of the former.
One of the most significant U.S. S. . alliances in Asia, and jeopardize investment pledges worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Catch up soon: September. 4. ICE conducted an operation at a joint venture between South Korean companies Hyundai and LG that was building an electric vehicle battery plant in Georgia.
The arrest, shackling, and transport of hundreds of workers to detention sparked a national outcry in South Korea. Eventually, a plane was dispatched by Seoul officials to collect and return those employees.
According to South Korean media on Sunday, Christopher Landau, the deputy secretary of state, visited the nation and “conveyed his deep regrets” for the arrests.
That was a few days after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told “The Axios Show” that Hyundai should have contacted him for assistance because the workers lacked the proper visas.
Driving the news: Trump appeared to provide permission for foreign workers to arrive for training in a long Truth Social post on Sunday afternoon.
Before departing, Trump stated, “I want foreign companies that are building very complex products, machines, and various other ‘things,’ come into the United States with massive investments to bring their people of expertise for a period of time to teach and train our people how to make these very unique and complex products.”.
“If we don’t do this, all of that enormous investment won’t ever happen in the first place. This includes chips, semiconductors, computers, ships, trains, and a lot of other things that we have to learn from others how to make, or frequently relearn because we used to be very good at it but are no longer. “..”.
Overall, Trump’s post is an honest admission that the U.S. S. lacks the expertise to produce a large number of the products that are the focus of the administration’s foreign investment campaign.
Hyundai alone is expected to spend $26 billion in the United States. S. President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea recently warned that the raid could discourage investment in the United States, which is building auto and battery plants. S.
Trade between the nation and the U.S. S. . additionally demands hundreds of billions of dollars in investments, some of which were intended to restore the U.S. S. shipbuilding sector.
The intrigue The raids were not supposed to deter foreign companies from expanding in the United States, according to American officials. A. On Sunday, however, Trump appeared to recognize the danger.
“I don’t want to scare away or discourage foreign nations or businesses from investing in America. We welcome them and their staff, and we’re ready to declare with pride that we will pick up tips from them and surpass them at their own “game” at some point in the not-too-distant future,” he wrote.
What to watch: Whether Trump’s remarks soften the suddenly strained ties with a vital ally, and whether the departing South Korean workers return to complete the now-delayed plant.
