South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung hopes to clinch a trade agreement with the US ahead of a looming July deadline, according to his nominee for prime minister, after a high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump was called off at the last minute.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung departed for Canada on Monday to attend the Group of Seven summit, his first overseas engagement since taking office earlier this month.

The South Korean leader emphasized the need for 'future-oriented cooperation' amid global trade challenges, a veiled reference to unilateral U.S. tariffs.