Industrial Response Strategies Following the Launch of Trump's Second Term... Korea Federation of SMEs Holds Seminar

Aiming to Explore Response Measures for Domestic SMEs
Over 70 Representatives from Import-Export SMEs Attend

The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (Kbiz) announced on the 15th that it held a seminar titled "Industry-specific Response Measures Seminar Following the Launch of Trump’s Second Term" at the Kbiz headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.

President-elect Donald Trump of the United States. Photo by AP Yonhap News

This seminar was organized to explore response measures for domestic small and medium enterprises (SMEs) amid ongoing global economic uncertainties and the expected strengthening of protectionist policies under the Trump administration’s second term. About 70 representatives from cooperatives and import-export SMEs attended the event.

The seminar was conducted in two sessions. Joo Won, Head of Economic Research at Hyundai Research Institute, spoke on "Changes in the External Economic Environment by 2025 and the Outlook for the Korean Economy," while Oh Seon-ju, Senior Research Fellow at Samil PwC, explained "Industry-specific Impacts and Response Directions under Trump 2.0."

Joo emphasized, “Given the high possibility of an economic downturn, SMEs need to establish efficient management strategies. It is crucial to closely monitor the development of the global secondary tariff war triggered by Trumpnomics 2.0. Export-oriented companies should formulate rational export and investment plans, while domestic market companies must prepare for the potential infiltration of competing foreign firms.”

Research Fellow Oh stated, “The Trump administration’s second term is likely to adopt even tougher protectionist measures than the first term to protect domestic jobs and reduce trade deficits. Strong sanctions against China are expected, and Mexico, Vietnam, and Korea are also likely to be included among countries for renegotiation of trade terms.”

Oh added, “SMEs, which heavily depend on intermediate goods from China and are vulnerable to external risks, may suffer significant damage. Moreover, newly formed supply chains after decoupling from China could also be threatened. To prevent recurrence of supply chain risks, real-time monitoring and diversification of production bases are urgently needed.”

Choo Moon-gap, Head of Economic Policy at Kbiz, said, “We hope this seminar will help SMEs respond swiftly to changes in the global trade environment following the launch of the Trump administration’s second term and establish overseas expansion strategies.”