Major Labor Unions: "25% Reciprocal Tariffs Threaten Workers' Livelihoods"

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) condemned the United States' reciprocal tariffs on Korean products, stating that such measures would threaten the livelihoods of Korean workers.

Yang Kyungsoo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), is speaking at a joint press conference of the two major labor unions. Photo by Yonhap News

On July 8, the two major labor unions issued a statement in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that a 25% reciprocal tariff would be imposed on Korean products starting August 1. They said, "We strongly condemn the United States' unfair tariff pressure, which threatens the employment and livelihoods of our workers."

They went on to say, "Korea is a country where major export industries such as automobiles, steel, and semiconductors are concentrated. This tariff measure will have a severe impact across the Korean industrial sector." They added, "As profitability deteriorates due to increased trade costs, companies will shift the burden onto workers through restructuring, lowering subcontracting prices, and expanding non-regular employment."

The unions also called on the government to come up with countermeasures in response to the U.S. tariffs. The two unions stated, "The government must demonstrate negotiating power during the grace period to secure the withdrawal of the tariffs." They added, "The government should respond firmly to U.S. demands and prepare measures to protect workers in industries that will be hit hardest by the tariffs, such as automobiles and steel." They further emphasized, "Both unions should be allowed to participate in the negotiation process to ensure that the position of labor is reflected in negotiations with the United States."