Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Thursday that Seoul and Washington are continuing talks on U.S. semiconductor tariffs under the understanding that Korea would not be put at a disadvantage compared with its competitors. Kim made the remarks during a meeting with reporters at an event marking four U.S. companies' plans to invest in Korea, a day after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that President Donald Trump's administration is working to develop a "targeted" and "thoughtful" tariff policy for semiconductors. "During tariff negotiations in October, the U.S. already said that it would not treat Korean semiconductors less favorably than those of its competitors," he said. "I believe the two countries are continuing discussions in this spirit." The minister also pointed out the semiconductor-related portion of a joint fact sheet that Seoul and Washington published in November to outline bilateral agreements on trade, investment and security. The fact sheet included a U.S. pledge to offer semiconductor tariff rates for Korea that are "no less favorable" than terms tha