On January 26 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would raise tariffs on South Korea from 15% to 25%. On the 5th, however, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said she did not know the specific timing of when the higher tariffs would take effect.
At a White House briefing that day, when asked when the tariff increase on South Korea would take effect, Leavitt responded, "I do not have a timetable for that (tariff increase)," adding, "I will make sure our trade team at the White House can get you an answer quickly and without delay."
On January 26, President Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that the Special Act on Investment in the United States had not passed the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, and he threatened to raise item-specific tariffs on South Korean automobiles, lumber, and pharmaceuticals, as well as all other reciprocal tariffs (country-specific tariffs), back to the pre-Korea-U.S. trade agreement level of 25%.
Afterward, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeonggwan and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy visited the United States and held negotiations with senior Trump administration officials, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is currently visiting the United States, has also been making a case to various circles in Washington, including a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
However, they have not yet achieved the outcome South Korea had hoped for, such as a withdrawal of the tariff hike. Relevant U.S. government departments are reportedly discussing the issue of publishing in the Federal Register the tariff increase on South Korea mentioned by President Trump.
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