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 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,