Washington: South Korea has asked the US to exclude it from a new tariff scheme during an official visit by South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun to Washington. Ahn made the request as he met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, US Secretary of Interior and National Energy Dominance Council Chairman Doug Burgum, and other officials. According to Qatar News Agency, in a meeting with Lutnick, Ahn conveyed Korean companies' concerns over Washington's tariff scheme to impose new customs duties. The two sides also discussed bolstering their partnership in strategic industries, such as shipbuilding and advanced industries. During his meetings with US officials, Ahn also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy and trade. Ahn's trip came amid mounting concerns over the plan of the US administration to impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, as well as to introduce reciprocal tariffs, and his consi deration of new tariffs on cars, chips, and pharmaceuticals.