On Monday (local time), US President Donald Trump announced that he is increasing tariffs on South Korean imports of pharmaceutical drugs, automobiles, and lumber from 15% to 25%. He accused Seoul of violating the terms of its trade agreement with the US.

Additionally, Trump stated that he is raising tariffs on South Korean goods because the nation's national assembly has not yet approved the trade agreement that he and President Lee Je Myung reached on July 30, 2025, and that he reiterated during his visit on October 29, 2025.

"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 US President wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"For America, our trade agreements are crucial. We have moved quickly to lower our TARIFFS in accordance with the agreed-upon transactions in each of these deals. Naturally, we anticipate that our trading partners will follow suit," he stated.

"The legislature of South Korea is failing to fulfill its agreement with the United States. On July 30, 2025, President Lee and I came to a Great Deal for both countries, and on October 29, 2025, while I was in Korea, we reiterated these terms. "Why hasn't it been approved by the Korean Legislature?" he continued.

According to Commerce Department data, South Korea exported USD 132 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024, making it one of the top suppliers of goods to the US. Automobiles and auto parts, semiconductors, and electronics are among the major shipments; these industries may now see price increases as a result of the higher duties.

In July, Trump announced a trade agreement in which the US would impose a uniform 15% tariff on goods imported from South Korea. This rate was 10 percentage points lower than what he had previously threatened, and the tariff hike represents a reversal of that agreement.

Trump added that South Korea had consented to "give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President."

However, the Trump administration's ties with South Korea have occasionally been tense, as evidenced by the immigration officials' raid at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in Georgia last year, which resulted in the detention of 475 people.

In response, the presidential office of South Korea said in a statement that the US has not formally notified it of the plan to raise tariffs.

It also stated that South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-Kwan, who is currently in Canada, will soon visit the United States to meet with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, will call a meeting to discuss Trump's announcement, according to the statement.