South Korea to review non-tariff barriers to respond to US reciprocal tariff plan
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South Korea’s Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said it will be necessary to monitor the situation.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL - South Korea will thoroughly review non-tariff barriers and other vulnerabilities to respond to a US plan to introduce reciprocal tariffs, the country’s acting president said on Feb 14.
US President Donald Trump tasked his economics team on Feb 13 with devising plans for reciprocal tariffs
“The impact of the reciprocal tariff measures may not be huge on our economy, as tariff rates are low due to the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement,” said Mr Choi Sang-mok, the finance minister who is serving as acting president.
“However, given that the US said it would also assess non-tariff barriers including value-added taxes and taxes on digital services, it is necessary to monitor the situation.”
Among the top 15 US trading partners, South Korea’s tariff rates are the second-highest after India, but nearly all were eliminated by the free trade pact first signed in 2007 and revised in 2018 during Mr Trump’s first term.
Economists have said the pact could help mitigate the country’s exposure to reciprocal tariffs threatened by Mr Trump, with the benchmark Kospi rising nearly 3 per cent this week to the highest level since early November.
“When it comes to reciprocal tariffs, South Korea will be of less priority for Trump, as we don’t have tariffs on US imports other than... maybe rice,” said Mr Huh Jae-hwan, economist at Eugene Investment Securities.
An official at South Korea’s customs agency said there were few barriers, if any, hindering trade of goods with the US and imports from the US were sometimes favoured under the trade pact.
Of the factors other than tariffs, taxes, subsidies, foreign exchange rates and unfair practices could be considered for Mr Trump’s reciprocal measures, South Korea’s Trade Ministry said.
Mr Choi said the government would respond to Mr Trump’s tariff plan by identifying key areas of US interest and preparing explanatory material regarding South Korea’s non-tariff barriers for the Trump administration.
South Korea’s average tariff rate on imports from the US stood at 0.79 per cent as at 2024, and is expected to be lower in 2025, with no duties on manufactured goods, the Finance Ministry said in a separate statement. REUTERS
