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.

South Korea's top trade envoy said on Friday his U.S. counterpart signaled a willingness to reach a deal over tariffs and that Seoul will negotiate in the best interests of the country despite a looming election,

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.