Sino-U.S. decoupling is forecast to intensify and preference for U.S. interests to expand under the incoming Donald Trump administration.

This outlook was put forth Wednesday at a seminar hosted by the Korea International Trade Association(KITA).

Kyung Hee University Professor Seo Jung-kun pointed to a possible extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and skinny repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act in Congress, projected to be dominated by the Republican Party.

Kim Jong-duk, head of international trade, investment and economic security at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, predicted that the Trump government will seek to clear the trade deficit through tariff policies.

Cho Seong-dae, head of trade research at KITA, called for action to minimize damage to the domestic economy and local businesses by actively promoting the value of the partnership between South Korea and the U.S.