SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -South Korea and the United States agreed to craft a package of deals aimed at removing new U.S. tariffs before the pause on reciprocal tariffs are lifted in July, Seoul's delegation said after the first round of trade talks in Washington.

Leaders of South Korea, the united Kingdom and Germany expressed their keen interests in sealing trade deals with the United States since the latter introduced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on imports into the country in a bid to balance up trade with the world.

South Korea's Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun said on Wednesday that Seoul will seek a speedy solution over auto tariffs in trade talks with U.S. counterparts and is also prepared for the prospect of Washington bringing up the issue of defence costs.