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President Donald Trump of the US offers a briefing on the White Home press room on Jan. 20, 2026, marking the primary anniversary of his second inauguration. (UPI/Yonhap)
Claiming that South Korea’s Nationwide Meeting was not holding up its finish of the commerce discount, US President Donald Trump stated he could be elevating the tariffs on numerous Korean items getting into the US to 25%.
Some recommend that Trump’s reversal on tariff charges that have been already lowered for Korean corporations is an expression of frustration concerning the delays in legislative approval of Korea’s investments within the US in return for lowered tariff charges.
In a publish to his Fact Social on Monday (US time), Trump declared, “Our Commerce Offers are crucial to America. In every of those Offers, we have now acted swiftly to scale back our TARIFFS in keeping with the Transaction agreed to. We, in fact, count on our Buying and selling Companions to do the identical.”
“South Korea’s Legislature isn’t dwelling as much as its Cope with america,” he continued.
“President Lee and I reached a Nice Deal for each International locations on July 30, 2025, and we reaffirmed these phrases whereas I used to be in Korea on October 29, 2025. Why hasn’t the Korean Legislature authorised it?”
“As a result of the Korean Legislature hasn’t enacted our Historic Commerce Settlement, which is their prerogative, I’m hereby growing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all different Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%. Thanks in your consideration to this matter!” he wrote, ending the publish.
The publish appears to be a reference to delays the passage of a invoice associated to Korea’s pledged funding within the US.
The US had beforehand introduced that it could decrease its reciprocal tariff on Korean items from 25% to fifteen% beginning Aug. 7 of final 12 months, with the sector-specific charges for autos and auto components to be lowered from 25% to fifteen% beginning Nov. 1.
Trump’s notion appears to be that Korea is dragging its toes on passing a invoice concerning the US funding bundle, regardless of the US already reducing tariffs. There has reportedly been rising discontent throughout the Trump administration concerning delays in South Korea holding up its finish of the commerce deal.
The invoice that would supply the authorized foundation for finishing up the agreed-upon investments is presently stalled within the Nationwide Meeting’s Finance, Financial system, Planning and Funds Committee. As a result of the ruling and opposition events differ of their interpretations of the authorized nature of the Korea-US commerce settlement, the invoice isn’t anticipated to maneuver ahead rapidly.
The ruling Democratic Celebration is arguing that as a result of the commerce settlement took the type of a memorandum of understanding, it isn’t legally binding and due to this fact doesn’t require Nationwide Meeting approval. The Democratic Celebration launched the invoice on Nov. 26 of final 12 months, and helps following by on the commerce agreements with the US by passing the invoice.
The opposition Individuals Energy Celebration, conversely, has argued that any pact that locations important fiscal burdens on the general public requires the Nationwide Meeting’s approval, citing Article 60, Paragraph 1 of Korea’s Structure.
The opposition social gathering’s place is {that a} pledge to speculate an quantity as large as US$350 billion primarily constitutes a treaty, which might require ratification earlier than the invoice may very well be handed.
The chairperson of the Nationwide Meeting’s Finance, Financial system, Planning and Funds Committee, the place the invoice is presently stalled, is Rep. Lim Lee-ja of the PPP. With out the opposition social gathering’s cooperation, the invoice is unlikely to be put up for a vote any time quickly.
By Kim Received-chul, Washington correspondent
Please direct questions or feedback to [english@hani.co.kr]
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