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In South Korea's ‘apple county', farmers beg not to be sacrificed for US trade deal
In South Korea's ‘apple county', farmers beg not to be sacrificed for US trade deal

Straits Times

time21 hours ago

  • Business
  • Straits Times

In South Korea's ‘apple county', farmers beg not to be sacrificed for US trade deal

Find out what's new on ST website and app. Apple farmers in Cheongsong county worry that their way of life could be under threat from an influx of cheap US imports. CHEONGSONG, SOUTH KOREA - The apples grown in the South Korean county of Cheongsong in the country's south-east are so renowned for their flavour that they are often given out in neatly-packaged gift boxes during national holidays. But apple farmers, who account for about a third of the roughly 14,000 households in the sleepy rural area, worry that their way of life could be under threat from an influx of cheap US imports. Fanning concerns, South Korea's trade minister suggested last week that Seoul could make concessions on some agricultural imports, although he said sensitive items should be protected, as part of any deal to eliminate or reduce punishing US tariffs on cars, steel and other key exports. 'US apples are very cheap. We can't compete with them,' said Mr Shim Chun-taek, a third-generation farmer who has been growing apples for two decades. He now fears South Korean farmers risk being sacrificed to appease the US and support the country's manufacturing sector. The United States has long called for better market access for its farm products from beef to apples and potatoes. US President Donald Trump in April imposed steep tariffs on rice in South Korea and Japan. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'poreans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Changi Airport's passenger traffic crosses 17.5 million mark in Q2 2025 Singapore 2 charged over alleged involvement in posting of bail for man who subsequently absconded Singapore Teen charged after she allegedly sold vaporisers, put up WhatsApp ad showing e-cigarettes Life Having a workout partner could be the secret to sticking to your fitness goals Singapore 2,500 turtles seized in India and sent back to S'pore, put down humanely after salmonella detected Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving South Korea has taken steps to open its market and is now the top buyer of US beef and the sixth-biggest destination for US agricultural exports overall. Still, Washington has complained about persistent non-tariff barriers. South Korea's quarantine agency is still reviewing US market access requests for apples more than 30 years after they were filed, sparking calls by Washington to expedite the approval process for a range of fruits and potatoes. Surging prices Any opening up of the sector would increase pressure on apple farmers already wrestling with a host of problems, from climate change to an ageing population and wildfires, which have led to rising costs, smaller harvests, and higher prices. Bank of Korea governor Rhee Chang-yong in 2024 said runaway prices of apples and other farm goods were contributing to inflation and that there was a need to consider more imports. The central bank noted South Korea's grocery prices were higher than the average for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, with apple prices nearly three times higher than the OECD average. 'I think it is difficult to justify absolute protection to certain agriculture sectors simply because of its high sensitivity,' said Mr Choi Seok-young, a former chief negotiator for the Korea-US free trade deal. It was hard to view the delayed quarantine process as 'rational based on science and international norms', added Mr Choi, who is now a senior adviser for law firm Lee & Ko. Agriculture has emerged as one of the sticking points in US trade talks with South Korea and Japan, after countries such as Indonesia and Britain agreed to allow more agricultural imports from the US in recent trade deals. Seoul has long restricted shipments of US beef from cattle older than 30 months. Massive protests from South Koreans worried about safety due to mad cow disease followed a 2008 agreement with the United States to lift the restrictions. Mr Shim, 48, who wakes at 3am every day to work on his orchards, said it would be impossible to find alternative crops to grow in the mountainous area. The tariff talks have already fuelled protests from farmers' groups. There could be more to come. 'We oppose the imports of apples no matter what,' Mr Youn Kyung-hee, mayor of Cheongsong county, told Reuters, adding that people will not 'sit still' if Seoul opens up the market. REUTERS

South Korea weighs painful concessions to avert Trump's looming tariffs
South Korea weighs painful concessions to avert Trump's looming tariffs

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Straits Times

South Korea weighs painful concessions to avert Trump's looming tariffs

Find out what's new on ST website and app. US President Donald Trump's across-the-board 25 per cent tariff is set to take effect on Aug 1. South Korea will hold high-level trade talks with the US on July 25, accelerating efforts to head off sweeping tariffs by weighing politically sensitive concessions that could reshape ties between the two allies. Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will meet their US counterparts, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in a so-called '2+2' format in Washington, Mr Koo told reporters on July 22. Seoul is preparing for a diplomatic push in the final days before the Aug 1 deadline when President Donald Trump's across-the-board 25 per cent tariff is set to take effect. South Korea's foreign and industry ministers are also expected to travel to the US separately as early as this week, while National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac recently departed for the US on his second trip in under two weeks. Trade Minister Yeo has previously addressed the difficult trade-offs required to protect South Korea's broader strategic and economic interests. While no formal offer has been extended, agricultural concessions have emerged as one of the few options under consideration. Past efforts to open the beef market sparked nationwide protests, and any shift on rice could face even stiffer resistance. 'We must make strategic judgements – protect what we must, but also consider what we can offer in the broader context of the talks,' Mr Yeo had earlier told reporters. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'poreans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Changi Airport's passenger traffic crosses 17.5 million mark in Q2 2025 Singapore 2 charged over alleged involvement in posting of bail for man who subsequently absconded Opinion Singapore's vaping crisis lays bare the drug addiction nightmare for parents Multimedia 'It's very sad': She comforts loved ones turned away by inmates Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections World Trump 'caught off guard' by Israel's strikes in Syria Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving The outcome of the negotiations carries high stakes for South Korea, where exports made up more than 40 per cent of GDP last year. As a key exporter of semiconductors, smartphones, automobiles, and batteries, any disruption to Korean shipments threatens to reverberate across global supply chains. To boost its bargaining position, Seoul is also exploring participation in a US-backed Alaskan gas project, potential cooperation in shipbuilding, industrial revitalisation, and regulatory changes to improve access for US tech firms. Defence burden-sharing is another sensitive area. Mr Trump has long pushed allies to increase their financial contributions to hosting American troops, and a modest boost in South Korea's share could help reduce friction in the broader talks. So far, Mr Lee has advocated for sticking with a five-year cost-sharing deal reached in October 2024, though his team has had discussions with US counterparts on the topic. Still, the priority is protecting industrial heavyweights. Autos account for more than a quarter of South Korea's exports to the US, and the nation's carmaker Hyundai Motor faces elevated risks due to its reliance on domestic production despite recent US investment pledges. Now, Mr Trump is also escalating the pressure on sectors previously considered less exposed: semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. The president has indicated that tariffs on both drugs and chips could take effect as early as the start of August. Those measures may be imposed alongside the higher reciprocal tariffs. The scope of these new duties could be wide. Korean pharmaceutical firms such as Celltrion and SK Biopharmaceuticals are among those expressing concerns over the measure, while the proposed chip duties might impact not only components but also finished products including smartphones and laptops from Samsung Electronics. Although some analysts expect Washington may ultimately favor investment incentives or import quotas in these sectors, the risk of outright tariffs is growing. Many Korean firms have built joint ventures in the US, particularly in cars and batteries, but their core supply chains remain rooted at home. After two trips to Washington since June, Trade Minister Yeo has emphasized that the talks should not be viewed as a zero-sum game. He advocates for a 'positive-sum' outcome, in which both sides walk away with mutual gains through deeper industrial and regulatory cooperation. But scepticism is mounting as time runs short and coordination among Korean ministries remains fragmented. 'From what we're seeing, this is less of a negotiation and more of a one-sided demand,' said Mr Park Sanghyun, an economist at iM Securities. 'At best, we might be able to shave the proposed 25 per cent rate down to something below 20 per cent, but the idea of avoiding sectoral tariffs altogether seems unlikely.' BLOOMBERG

DXB named best airport in the world for food and shops
DXB named best airport in the world for food and shops

Time Out Dubai

time08-07-2025

  • Business
  • Time Out Dubai

DXB named best airport in the world for food and shops

DXB has been crowned the world's best airport for food and shops, according to a global survey. The world's busiest airport claimed top spot out of a ranking of 250 airports based in 68 different countries. Passengers across the world were asked by travel tech company AirHelp for their opinions of the shops and restaurants on offer at airports they had visited. Each airport was given a score out of 10, ranging from very bad to very good, and Dubai ranked first with an average score of 9.1. DXB finished fractionally ahead of Hamad International Airport in Doha and Singapore Changi Airport in the final ranking. (Credit: Adobe) Dubai International Airport offers a wide variety of bites to eat for passengers, with everything ranging from food stalls in mini food halls to celebrity-backed restaurants (and all the world's biggest fast food brands) across its three bustling terminals. Shoppers have a wide variety of options too, with leading luxury brands such as Burberry, Chanel, and Gucci among the big names at the airport. DXB's duty-free offering has also been propped up by visitors spending a whopping Dhs1 million on the viral Dubai chocolate in recent times, with the airport offering plenty of options for tourists to grab a last-minute souvenir (including a regular pop-up by the OG Dubai chocolate brand). You may like: 19 throwback photos show what DXB Airport used to look like AirHelp has helped travellers make informed decisions by ranking the performance of airlines and airports across the world since 2015. In addition to top spot for food and shopping, DXB placed 18th in the overall ranking, which also took on-time performance and customer opinion into account. The final ranking overall placed Cape Town, Doha and Riyadh King Khaled as the top three overall. Muscat (5), Dammam (10), Jeddah (11), Medina (12) and Abu Dhabi (19) also placed in the top 20. Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp said: 'We believe passengers should be able to make decisions about air travel based on more than just the price of a flight. 'Our goal is to equip them with an insight into flight performance using other factors that matter. 'Through the AirHelp Score, we can help passengers better predict what their experience will look like at different airports and what they can do if their flight gets delayed, cancelled or overbooked.' Flying from Dubai soon? How to spend your stopover in Dubai – no matter how long you're here for We've got your To Do list covered 48 hours in Dubai: all the best things to do in two days Your dream itinerary for a fleeting trip Revealed: The 5 top holiday destinations for people living in the UAE Is your favourite in the top five?

The two Asian airports named among the most beautiful airports in the world for 2025
The two Asian airports named among the most beautiful airports in the world for 2025

Time Out

time03-07-2025

  • Time Out

The two Asian airports named among the most beautiful airports in the world for 2025

Increasingly, airports are being designed not as mere transitional spaces. Instead, they're being treated as expressions of the destination's history and culture, and as restful – even inspiring – landing points for weary travellers. Asian airports like Singapore Changi Airport and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Satellite Terminal 1, laureates on the Prix Versailles Most Beautiful Airports in the World 2024 list, certainly get it with nature-inspired interiors and culturally informed installations on every corner. This year, they pass the torch to another two Asian airports on the 2025 list of the world's six most beautiful airports. The first airport to be recognised by Prix Versailles is Yantai Penglai International Airport, your first port of call in Yantai, China. Specifically, Terminal 2 of the airport has been marked for its elegant and sweeping roofline, which evokes Mount Kunyu, a picturesque mountain range located between Yantai City and Weihai City. The entire terminal is flooded with natural light, illuminating the natural curves, tones, and materials that make up the interior. Prix Versailles also highlights reinterpreations of wooden ships' hulls within the terminal inspired by the Maritime Silk Road. Osaka, Japan is a particularly popular destination this year, with many flocking to the city for the 2025 World Expo. If you're heading down, pop into the gorgeous Kansai International Airport Terminal 1, which has just been expanded and refreshed. Its capacity has now been expanded by 25%, with a smart queue management system to help manage growing crowds. Its interiors have also undergone a makeover: natural materials in hues of brown now give the space a distinctive Japanese feel. The most beautiful airports in the world for 2025, according to Prix Versailles: Yantai Penglai International Airport, Terminal 2 – Yantai, China Marseille Provence Airport, Terminal 1 – Marignane, France Roland Garros Airport, Arrivals Terminal – Réunion Island, France Kansai International Airport, Terminal 1 – Osaka, Japan Portland International Airport, Main Terminal – Portland, United States San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1 – San Francisco, United States

Haneda Third and Narita Fifth in World's Best Airports Ranking

time19-06-2025

  • Business

Haneda Third and Narita Fifth in World's Best Airports Ranking

Japan Data Japan's airports performed strongly in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2025, shining in categories including cleanliness and facilities for persons with reduced mobility. Strong Showing for Japan's Airports Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) was third in the overall ranking of the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2025, rising one place from the previous year. It had previously been in second place from 2019 to 2022, before falling to third in 2023. Narita International Airport, meanwhile, remained in fifth place for a second consecutive year. Haneda continued to rank top in a number of categories, including World's Cleanest Airports, which it has won for 10 years in a row. It has also finished first 7 times consecutively for World's Best PRM and Accessible Facilities (provided for persons with reduced mobility) and 13 times in the World's Best Domestic Airports category. Japan's airports performed particularly strongly in the Best PRM and Accessible Facilities category, with New Chitose (Sapporo) in second, Narita in seventh, Fukuoka in eighth, and Kansai in tenth. The World's Best Airports Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore) Hamad International Airport (Qatar) Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) (Japan) Incheon Airport (South Korea) Narita International Airport (Japan) Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong) Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (France) Roma Fiumicino Airport (Italy) Munich Airport (Germany) Zurich Airport (Switzerland) Created by based on data from Skytrax. Singapore Changi Airport rose one place to head the overall ranking in 2025, ahead of Hamad International Airport in Qatar. The two have tussled over the top position in recent years. Data Sources World Airport Awards 2025, World's Cleanest Airports, World's Best PRM and Accessible Facilities, and World's Best Domestic Airports from Skytrax, 2025. (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)

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