South Korea sent a delegation to Washington to hold a second round of technical discussions this week over the Trump administration's proposed "reciprocal" tariffs, Seoul's Trade Ministry said Tuesday.

China's CMOC Group , the world's top cobalt mining company, called on Democratic Republic of Congo last week to lift a ban on exports of the battery metal, which is currently due to expire next month, three sources told Reuters.

The presidential candidates representing South Korea’s two largest political parties agreed on the importance of the country’s relationship with the United States during a recent televised debate but differed on how to handle its adversaries.

Japan spoke with Washington following Trump’s imposed auto tariffs before South Korea did, but South Korea appears to have a clearer path to a U.S. deal.

More support will be given to key sectors of the South Korean economy affected by the United States' tariffs, the government said in Seoul on Wednesday, even as the second round of technical discussions with Washington took off.