Trump Raises Tariffs on South Korean Goods to 25%

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would raise tariffs on certain South Korean goods from 15 percent to 25 percent, accusing South Korea’s legislature of failing to implement a bilateral trade agreement with the United States.

In a social media post, President Trump said that because the South Korean legislature did not enforce America’s historic trade agreement, tariffs on South Korean automobiles, timber, pharmaceuticals, and all other reciprocal goods have been increased from 15 percent to 25 percent. He accused South Korea’s legislature of not honoring the agreement with the United States.

Trump stated that although he and President Lee reached what he described as an excellent agreement for both countries on July 30, 2025, and committed to implementing its terms during his visit to Korea on October 29, 2025, the agreement was not successfully carried out.

Under the agreement reached between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in October 2025, the United States was to impose a flat 15 percent tariff on imports from South Korea, 10 percentage points lower than the level Trump had previously threatened. In return, South Korea had agreed to invest USD 350 billion in the United States.