TMTPOST -- The South Korean government   is   reported to consider   the massive committed investments for a   trade deal that will   see   15%   U.S. tariffs on   the Asian economy, similar   to   one   U.S. President Donald Trump   announced with   its neighbour   Japan   on Tuesday.  

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

South Korea is exploring a   proposal to invest   at least $100   billion   in the United States as   part of trade talks with   the Trump administration, Yonhap   News Agency   cited industry sources on Thursday.The proposed investment package   would   include potential commitments from major South Korean conglomerates, including Samsung Group, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Group, POSCO Group and Hanwha Group., according to the sources.  

The South Korean news media   outlet suggested to Seoul   could   even   expand   the investment package to push for a deal   ahead of Trump ’ s   self-imposed deadline August 1.   It   reported that   the   proposed package could   get   bigger in   value   if it   includes possible procurement   by   the government.

The   report cied   an industry official   the   South Korean government   had directly   contacted each of the top ten   domestic   conglomerates to know the potential size   of their committed   investment.   Seoul   is trying to put together a package that aligns with   Trump's interests, like cooperation in the shipbuilding industry,   even   if   the total investment   falls short of   Japan ’ s   under the recent deal,   said   the official.

Another   South   Korean-based news   media Asia Today   echoed   the $100 billion possible investment.   It reported the government is preparing a multi-pronged strategy involving   both public and private   sectors to dip   U.S. tariffs   to 15%, instead of 25%   Trump   earlier   this month   threatened from August   1.   And at the   center of the efforts is   a   proposal   for over   $100 billion   in local   investment by South Korean   companies.  

Washington and Seoul   have discussed creating a fund to invest in American projects as part of a trade deal, similar   to that   U.S.   and Japan   struck   earlier this week,   Bloomberg quoted people familiar   with the matter   on Thursday.   The U.S.-   South Korea   talks   are said to focus on   reaching a 15% tariff rate,   including the current auto levies,   just like the U.S.-Japan   deal   dictates.   

Though it   is not clear the scope   of the   fund under discussion, the   sources   said the   U.S.   has been   seeking pledges   totaling hundreds of billions of   dollars, adding that talks remains fluid.   The   deal may   also require South Korea to pledge   additional   purchase of U.S. goods in   key sectors, again echoing the   Japan   agreement.

Trump on Tuesday announced a "massive"   trade deal with Japan, involving $550 billion in investments and a 15% reciprocal tariff on Japanese goods.   The 15% tariff rate is   not   just lower than   the 24%   tariffs the Trump administration   originally implemented   in   early April,   but   also lower than the 25%   tariffs that   Trump   threatened the   U.S. would charge on all of imports from Japan starting August 1.  

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba   on Wednesday confirmed   the agreement   to set tariffs   at 15%,   including   the existing   rate. He told reporters   that the 15% rate was the lowest so far among countries that   have   a   trade surplus   with the U.S., thus   "   we   have   achieved   the greatest results."

Details of   a   trade   agreement released by the White House the $550 billion will be targeted toward the revitalization of semiconductor and other U.S. strategic industrial base. Japan will increase imports of U.S. rice by 75%,   buy $8 billion in U.S. agricultural goods and U.S.-made commercial aircraft including 100 Boeing aircraft. Tokyo   will also lift   longstanding   restrictions on U.S. cars and trucks.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday pointed squarely at across-the-sea competition with Japan as a catalyst for the South Koreans ahead of meetings with U.S. negotiators.  

"You can hear the expletives out of Korea when they read the Japanese deal, because the Koreans and the Japanese, they stare at each other," Lutnick told CNBC. "They were like, ‘ Oh, man. ’ "   "The Koreans, like the Europeans, very much want to make a deal,"   he added.