President Trump on Monday said he is raising tariffs on South Korea because the nation has not yet approved a trade deal with the U.S. that the two countries agreed to in October.
Mr. Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. will increase its tariff on imports from South Korea from 15% to 25% and also hike levies on the country’s automobiles, lumber and pharmaceutical goods.
“South Korea’s Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States. President Lee and I reached a Great Deal for both Countries on July 30, 2025, and we reaffirmed these terms while I was in Korea on October 29, 2025. Why hasn’t the Korean Legislature approved it?” he said in announcing the stepped-up duties.
The two countries reached a deal on trade and security issues after Mr. Trump met his South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Seoul in October.
The US leader’s about-face comes months after Washington and Seoul struck a trade and security deal, capping months of tense negotiations.
The agreement was finalized after Trump met his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung in October, and included investment promises by South Korea alongside tariff cuts by the United States.
Under the pact, Washington would maintain levies of up to 15 percent on South Korean goods including vehicles, car parts and pharmaceuticals.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the legality of Trump administration tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. If they are struck down, White House officials have said they can turn to other powers that effectively replace the sweeping levies.
