South Korea is sending its trade minister to the US this week to discuss tariffs after President Donald Trump’s administration hit the Asian ally with a 25% levy, among the highest duties to be imposed on a US security ally.

With a snap election looming, South Korea's rival parties jockeyed for position with vows to focus on the economy and livelihood, but the leaderless country remains hamstrung when it comes to confronting the biggest threat: Trump and tariffs.

President Donald Trump ignited a global trade war by announcing a plan to impose a 10% baseline tariff on most goods imported to the United States on April 2 and higher duties on more than 60 countries under the so-called reciprocal tariff scheme.