“Because the Korean Legislature hasn’t enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. It was not immediately clear when the higher tariffs would take effect.
Trump said the decision followed South Korea’s failure to ratify a trade package he described as a “Great Deal” reached with President Lee Jae Myung on July 30, 2025, and reaffirmed during his visit to Korea late October.
The White House has yet to confirm Trump's remark. Seoul also has not responded.
The October understanding was billed by the White House at the time as a sweeping $350 billion trade and investment framework, aimed at expanding U.S. exports and investment flows while easing tariff and non-tariff barriers between the two allies.
The package reportedly covered market access in autos, pharmaceuticals and industrial materials, alongside commitments related to supply chains, energy cooperation and long-term Korean investment in the United States.
“South Korea’s Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States,” Trump wrote, questioning why the agreement had yet to be enacted despite what he called repeated reaffirmations at the leadership level.
The tariff hike directly affects key Korean export sectors. Autos are expected to be among the hardest hit, with Hyundai Motor Group the largest importer of South Korean-made vehicles into the U.S. market. Pharmaceuticals and industrial materials such as lumber were also singled out in Trump’s post.
A senior-level U.S. delegation is expected to visit Seoul to negotiate the details to the factsheet released in November that differs in some areas with Seoul's separate announcement on the deal.
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