Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Jan 27: US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would raise tariffs on South Korean goods, including automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals, accusing Seoul of failing to honour an earlier trade pact with Washington.

Announcing the move on his Truth Social platform, Trump said tariff rates would be increased from 15 percent to 25 percent, claiming South Korea’s legislature had not enacted the “historic trade agreement” reached between the two countries. “South Korea’s Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States,” he wrote, adding that the decision was within Seoul’s prerogative.

South Korea’s Presidential office said it had not been informed in advance about the proposed tariff hike. It added that Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan, currently in Canada, would travel to Washington for talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Trump’s statement comes months after Washington and Seoul concluded a trade and security deal following talks between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in October. The agreement included investment commitments by South Korea and tariff reductions by the United States, but has remained in legal limbo in Seoul.

The South Korean Presidential office had earlier maintained that the deal did not require parliamentary approval, describing it as a memorandum of understanding rather than a binding legal document. When asked whether the pact had been submitted to parliament, a senior official told AFP on Tuesday that the matter was being examined.

Under the agreement, U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods, including vehicles, auto parts and pharmaceuticals, were capped at 15 percent, with car tariffs reduced from an earlier 25 percent. Trump’s latest threat, if implemented, would reverse those cuts.

The auto sector accounts for around 27 percent of South Korea’s exports to the United States, which absorbs nearly half of the country’s total car exports. Analysts warn that a tariff hike could weaken South Korea’s competitiveness against countries such as Japan and the European Union, both of which have secured 15 percent tariff deals with the U.S.

So far, the Trump administration has not issued formal notices to implement the changes. The warning to South Korea follows similar threats against other trading partners. Over the weekend, Trump cautioned Canada against finalising a trade deal with China, threatening a 100 percent tariff, while earlier this month he also floated tariff threats against several European nations before later backing down.