President Trump announced Monday that he’s hiking tariffs against South Korea because the Korean Legislature has failed to enact a trade agreement reached with the US nearly six months ago.
“South Korea’s Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“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,” the president continued. “Why hasn’t the Korean Legislature approved it?
“Because the Korean Legislature hasn’t enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%.”
The move snaps tariffs against South Korea back to the 25% rate Trump announced last April — but later delayed — as part of his “Liberation Day” package.
The “Full and Complete Trade Deal” between the US and South Korea was set to include a $350 billion in investment from Seoul and locked in a 15% tariff rate for the Asian nation.
“Additionally, South Korea will purchase $100 Billion Dollars of LNG, or other Energy products and, further, South Korea has agreed to invest a large sum of money for their Investment purposes,” the president said at the time.
In his post Monday, Trump noted that when trade deals have been reached, his administration has “acted swiftly to reduce our TARIFFS in line with the Transaction agreed to.”
“We, of course, expect our Trading Partners to do the same.”