Jeonnam Province Responds to U.S. Mutual Tariffs... Focuses on Expanding Exports

Participation in the Atlanta World Korean Business Conference
Exhibiting Products in Food, Bio, Beauty, and Healthcare Sectors

The scene of the Jeonnam Pavilion operation at the Atlanta World Korean Business Conference held on the 17th. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Despite the trade risks posed by the United States' high-tariff policies, Jeonnam Province is making every effort to implement strategic measures to help export-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enter the U.S. market.

On April 3, the United States announced its "Mutual Tariffs" policy as a foreign trade measure, officially declaring that it would impose tariffs of up to 25% on certain major exporting countries, including South Korea.

This policy is based on the stance that the U.S. will respond to countries imposing unfair tariffs on American products by imposing equal or higher tariffs in return. It is widely interpreted as signaling the beginning of a new global trade order.

On April 9, the U.S. government decided to grant a 90-day grace period for the imposition of tariffs on major trading partners, excluding China. This is seen as a strategic move to allow room for negotiations with key trading partners and to reflect the reactions of American industries.

For domestic export companies, this has provided a "golden time" for negotiations and market expansion amid the ongoing trade crisis.

To turn this situation into a real opportunity, Jeonnam Province responded promptly on the ground by participating in the "2025 World Korean Business Conference (WKBC)" held in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 17 (local time), together with regional SMEs.

The opening ceremony was held at the Gas South Convention Center on the same day, attended by the head of the Overseas Koreans Agency, senior officials from U.S. state governments, officials from the Federation of Korean Associations of America, and more than 1,000 Korean businesspeople from around the world.

To utilize this conference as a strategic base for entering the U.S. market, Jeonnam Province dispatched 13 promising SMEs to operate the "Jeonnam Pavilion" onsite.

Participating companies included Food Papa (Gokseong), Haecheongjeong (Wando), Namdo Soban (Mokpo), Hyundai Food System (Jangseong), and NPK (Damyang), all SMEs with products that meet local demand in the U.S. market.

Export companies from various sectors such as food, bio, beauty, and healthcare directly exhibited their products, engaged in export consultations with buyers, and signed agreements to explore opportunities for entering the U.S. market.

In particular, on this day, DXM Co., Ltd. from Hwasun achieved a significant result by signing an export memorandum of understanding (MOU) for hair dye products worth $800,000.

Park Changhwan, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Jeonnam Province, stated, "Jeonnam Province is working to secure a practical foothold to turn this situation into an opportunity rather than a trade crisis," adding, "We will actively provide administrative and financial support to ensure that local companies can maintain their competitiveness in this changing environment."

He continued, "The U.S. Mutual Tariffs policy may cause a temporary shock, but it will also serve as an opportunity to diversify export markets and realign our strategy to focus on quality. Jeonnam Province will further strengthen public-private cooperation so that export companies can continue to secure competitiveness on the global stage."