South Korea's exports barely grew in February, missing market expectations, with demand in key markets hurt amid a global trade war triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Outbound shipments from Asia's fourth-largest economy stood at $52.

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's industry minister requested a tariff exemption in talks with the U.S. administration, Seoul's industry ministry said on Saturday, as Washington moves forward with plans to impose new tariffs.

South Korea’s exports contracted in February in another worrying sign for the trade-reliant economy at a time when officials are scrambling to engage the US in hopes of averting a hit from Donald Trump’s tariff campaign.

South Koreas industry minister, Ahn Duk-geun, has urged the U.S. to grant tariff exemptions during trade talks in Washington, as the Biden administration moves forward with new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

South Korea's Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun will travel to Washington D.C. from Wednesday through to Friday to press again for an exemption from U.S. steel tariffs and discuss ways to boost cooperation in energy and shipbuilding,

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 agreement between the two nations.

South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun has filed a request with the U.S. government to exclude South Korea from its new tariff plans while discussing expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields,