South Korea’s trade surplus with the U.S. is declining.
 
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, South Korea’s trade surplus with the U.S. fell nine-point-nine percent from some 25-point-nine billion dollars in 2015 to 23-point-two billion dollars in 2016.
 
The nation’s accumulated trade surplus with the U.S. between January and May of this year stood at around six-point-nine billion dollars, down 36-point-seven percent compared to the same period last year.
 
The ministry said the sharp drop in the figure came as South Korea’s exports to the U.S. slipped slightly while South Korea’s imports of U.S. goods rose sharply.

South Korea’s imports of agricultural and marine products, equipment for manufacturing semiconductors, general machinery, aircraft and related parts from the U.S. rose sharply.

The ministry expects the rapidly declining trade surplus will help Seoul's position in trade negotiations with Washington as the U.S. is stepping up pressure on Seoul over trade surplus.