ARCHIVEAL PHOTO: South Korean president Lee Jae Myung hands US president Donald Trump the gold crown of Silla in Gyeongju, 29 October 2025. © Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
President Donald Trump announced a abrupt increase in duties on key South Korean imported goods, including cars, wood and pharmaceutical products, from 15% to 25%.
The decision, announced on Monday via his fact Social platform, straight accuses the South Korean Parliament of not being ratified ‘historical’ a trade and investment agreement that was finalized with president Lee Jae Myung in October 2025.
Trump stated that although the United States rapidly reduced its duties under the Agreement, Seoul failed to comply with his obligations, which justifies the imposition of sanctions.
"President Lee and I have reached a wonderful agreement for both countries... Why has the Korean Parliament not approved it?” – Trump wrote.
The South Korean President's office reported that it had not yet received any authoritative announcement from Washington and announced that the Minister of Commerce would go to the United States for urgent talks.
The crisis focused on the agreement announced for the first time in July 2025, which offered to reduce US tariffs from 25% to 15% in exchange for crucial concessions from South Korea, including a commitment to invest $350 billion in the United States.
However, the agreement was stuck in the National Assembly of South Korea, where it is subject to strict political and economical control.
President Lee Jae Myung publically warned that investment demand, especially if satisfied with cash, could trigger a serious liquidity crisis.
He recalled an analogy to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, during which South Korea nearly exhausted its abroad exchange reserves and needed considerable financial assistance from the global Monetary Fund.
This step against an crucial Asian ally is in line with Trump's wider trade strategy "America First”, which uses the threat of advanced duties as a leverage to get investment commitments and favourable conditions from trading partners.
Similar tactics were applied in negotiations with the European Union, which undertook to invest $600 billion in the US and acquisition US energy worth $750 billion.
Last week, the European Parliament suspended approval of the agreement, citing "continuous and expanding threats" Trump towards the block, including his plan to annex Greenland.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/631561-trump-south-korea-tariffs/
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