Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun speaks during minister-level talks with his Czech Republic counterpart, Seoul, Feb. 17. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun will pay a visit to the United States as early as this week for discussions on new U.S. import tariff plans, a government official said Sunday.

The proposed visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on imported goods starting in April.

"We are currently arranging with U.S. officials to lock the date for Ahn's visit," a senior government official said, adding the trip could take place as early as this week.

"We are swiftly moving to put forward our stance on the matter and have it reflected before the U.S. launches its trade policy in full swing," the official added.

Ahn is known to be arranging meetings with senior U.S. officials in charge of trade and commerce, including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and senior officials of the National Economic Council (NEC), among others.

During the visit, Ahn plans to stress Korea's position as an important U.S. partner in manufacturing and high-tech industry, including steel, automotive and semiconductors, as part of efforts to minimize potential damage from the U.S. import tariff plan. (Yonhap)