US President Donald Trump announced on social media that tariffs on South Korean cars, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other goods subject to mutual tariff regime will be increased from 15 to 25 percent.
Trump said the decision reflected the US administration's position that trade agreements should be implemented fully and symmetrically. He stressed that the United States has moved quickly to reduce tariffs in accordance with its obligations under the agreements concluded and expects its trading partners to fulfill the same obligations.
The trade agreement remains frowned upon by the legislature
According to Trump, the South Korean National Assembly has not fulfilled its obligations under the bilateral agreement reached with South Korea. He stated that a "strong and mutually beneficial" trade agreement was concluded with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on July 30, 2025, and that these commitments were confirmed during his visit to South Korea on October 29, 2025.
Despite these assurances, Trump said the agreement had not yet been ratified by the Korean legislature, prompting the decision to reinstate higher tariff levels.
Prerequisites for an earlier tariff reduction
As previously reported by SteelOrbis, a bilateral trade deal between the United States and South Korea reduced mutual tariffs on South Korean imports from 25 to 15 percent, easing trade tensions between the two countries. In turn, South Korea
