AsianFin -- South Korean and U.S. trade officials have held last-ditch talks to extend the July 9 deadline for trade agreements in an effort to stave off sweeping tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump

South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Saturday in Washington, where he proposed deeper manufacturing partnerships and urged the removal or reduction of tariffs on key exports such as automobiles and steel, according to a statement from Seoul’s industry ministry on Sunday.

The meeting came just days ahead of the deadline to reinstate higher U.S. tariffs that were paused in April. Trump has indicated that the U.S. will begin notifying trading partners of unilateral tariff rates that would take effect on August 1.