South Korea's top trade envoy Cheong In-kyo said on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff reprieve had provided room for negotiations, as the country seeks to reduce tariffs through talks.

As its trade negotiators headed to Washington for talks, South Korea announced measures to support the country’s carmakers who were badly hit by the levies announced by President Trump.

Seoul showed that tariffs and other protectionist policies, in rare cases, can have desired results. A half-century ago, Hyundai Motors was little known, a company protected by a virtual ban on imported cars and then high tariffs.