President Donald Trump announced late Monday that the United States will sharply increase tariffs on South Korean imports after what he described as Seoul’s failure to follow through on a previously negotiated trade agreement.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said the South Korean legislature has not approved a deal he reached with President Lee last year, prompting him to raise tariffs across multiple sectors.
“Our Trade Deals are very important to America,” Trump wrote. “In each of these Deals, we have acted swiftly to reduce our TARIFFS in line with the Transaction agreed to. We, of course, expect our Trading Partners to do the same.”
Trump said the agreement was finalized on July 30, 2025, and reaffirmed during his visit to South Korea on October 29 of last year, but has yet to be enacted by the Korean legislature.
“South Korea’s Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States,” Trump wrote. “Why hasn’t the Korean Legislature approved it?”
Because the agreement has not been formally ratified, Trump said the United States will move forward with higher reciprocal tariffs, raising rates from 15 percent to 25 percent on a broad range of South Korean imports.
President Trump’s Visit to South Korea – October 29th, 2025
The move represents a significant escalation in trade pressure against one of America’s key allies in Asia and signals Trump’s continued willingness to use tariffs as leverage to enforce what he views as fair and reciprocal trade relationships.
South Korea and the United States have been bound by the Korea US Free Trade Agreement since 2012, which eliminated most tariffs between the two countries. Trump has long criticized that framework, arguing it disadvantaged American manufacturers and contributed to persistent trade imbalances.
During his second term, Trump has pursued a larger strategy of renegotiating or restructuring trade relationships through reciprocal tariffs, often tying lower rates to investment commitments and legislative approval from foreign governments. In 2025, the administration initially imposed tariffs of up to 25 percent on South Korean goods before negotiations led to a provisional reduction to 15 percent.
That July 2025 agreement reportedly included commitments from Seoul for substantial US investment and purchase guarantees, but Trump has repeatedly said those concessions are meaningless without formal legislative approval.
Administration officials have echoed that stance, arguing that enforceability is the core issue. Without ratification, they say, the United States has no guarantee the terms will be honored long term.
The tariff increase takes effect immediately and adds to a growing list of countries facing heightened trade penalties under Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy. The White House has not indicated whether further negotiations with South Korea are planned, but Trump’s message made clear that relief will only come once the deal is formally approved.
As Trump put it, the choice now rests with Seoul’s lawmakers.
