National Foreign Trade Council Chairman Jake Colvin discusses foreign relations under the Trump administration as part of “Claman Countdown.”
President Donald Trump said Monday it was raising tariffs on South Korean imports of automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals to 25 percent, accusing Seoul of “failing to respect” its trade deal.
“Our trade deals are very important to America. In each of these deals, we have moved quickly to reduce our TARIFFS in accordance with the agreed-upon transaction,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social article.
“We of course expect our trading partners to do the same,” he added, asserting that South Korea Lawmakers had not approved the trade deal.
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President Donald Trump said he would raise tariffs up to 25% on South Korea following delays in an agreed trade deal. (Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)
“Because the Korean legislature has failed to enact our historic trade agreement, which is its prerogative, I hereby increase South Korean TARIFFS on automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and all other reciprocal TARIFFS. from 15% at 25%,” Trump added.
The South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Hyundai vehicles are loaded onto a ship at a port near the company’s Ulsan factory in Ulsan, South Korea, March 30, 2025. (SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The move is part of Trump’s broader second-term strategy of using tariffs as leverage to enforce compliance with trade rules rather than as temporary negotiating tools.
The move comes as the Trump administration awaits a ruling from the Supreme Court on whether some of the trade taxes imposed in 2025 exceeded presidential authoritya decision that could have broad implications for current tariff actions.
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President Donald Trump, right, and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung reached a 2025 trade deal. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Tariffs are taxes levied on imported goods. Although paid by businesses at the border, costs are often passed on higher pricesleaving consumers to bear much of the burden.
It remains unclear when the higher tariffs will take effect or how South Korea might respond.
