U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will raise tariffs on goods imported from South Korea to 25 percent, blaming the South Korean legislature for delaying approval of a trade agreement between the two countries.
Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, saying that because South Korea’s lawmakers have not approved the trade pact, the United States will increase tariffs on items such as cars, lumber, and pharmaceuticals.
Under an earlier arrangement, U.S. tariffs on many South Korean products had been set at 15 percent. The new decision would reverse that and return the tariff rate to 25 percent.
Why the Tariffs Are Being Increased
According to Trump, the tariff hike is related to a “historic” trade agreement that both countries agreed on last year. He said the United States had agreed to lower its tariffs as part of the deal, but South Korea’s legislature has not yet passed the agreement into law.
In his post, Trump questioned why the South Korean National Assembly has not approved the deal. He said that because the agreement has not been enacted, he was raising the tariffs.
Which Products Are Affected
The tariff increase is expected to apply to South Korean automobiles, lumber, pharmaceutical products, and other goods that are subject to reciprocal tariffs between the two countries.
This move could affect major South Korean companies that export vehicles and other products to the U.S. It may also impact trade relations between the United States and South Korea if the dispute continues.
South Korea’s Response
South Korean officials have said they had not yet received formal notification from the United States about the tariff increase. The government has said it will hold internal meetings and work with U.S. officials to discuss next steps.
South Korea’s trade and industry leaders are expected to enter discussions with U.S. officials soon to address the issue and encourage swift action by the legislature on the trade agreement.
The tariff increase underscores ongoing tensions in global trade policies. Trump has used tariffs as a tool in trade negotiations in recent years, and this decision shows how such measures can be used to apply pressure when agreements are delayed.
Higher tariffs could raise costs for U.S. importers and buyers of products from South Korea. At the same time, they may push South Korea to accelerate its approval of the trade pact to avoid further tariff increases and protect its export industries.