GYEONGJU, South Korea — After a charm offensive in Japan that culminated in $490 billion in investment commitments, President Donald Trump met with South Korea's leader on Wednesday as a trade deal with that country appears more elusive.

Top officials in Washington and and Seoul say the sticking point for an agreement continues to be the logistics behind Trump’s demand that South Korea invest $350 billion in the United States.

Korean officials say putting up cash could destabilize their own economy, and they’d rather offer loans and loan guarantees instead. The country would also need a swap line to manage the flow of its currency into the U.S.

The disparity between what Trump is asking for and what South Korea can deliver threatens to overshadow the meeting between Trump and South Kore

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