Trump announces 25% tariffs on South‑Korean cars, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other goods, citing Seoul’s failure to ratify a trade deal. He says the U.S. will raise duties from 15% to 25% in response to the Korean parliament’s delay. President Lee Jae‑Myung and Trump had reached an agreement on 30 July, which was reiterated during Lee’s visit to Seoul on 29 October. Seoul’s administration says it will discuss the issue with Washington promptly and that Trade Minister Kim Jung‑kwan, currently in Canada, will soon travel to the United States to consult with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The tariff move follows a trade pact signed in October 2025 that lowered South‑Korean duties to a maximum of 15% and included commitments such as a $350 billion investment in the U.S., $200 billion in cash and $150 billion for naval‑ship construction cooperation. South Korea also pledged to purchase $100 billion of U.S. liquefied natural gas and other energy sources over the next three to four years. The U.S. market represents half of South‑Korean auto exports, which account for 27% of the country’s total exports to the United States. The naval‑ship sector is strategically important as South Korea is the world’s second‑largest shipbuilder after China.

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