{"id":2208692,"date":"2025-03-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2208692"},"modified":"2025-03-11T14:18:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T05:18:31","slug":"choi-warns-of-economic-fallout-as-trump-targets-south-korea-with-tariffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/03\/choi-warns-of-economic-fallout-as-trump-targets-south-korea-with-tariffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Choi warns of economic fallout as Trump targets South Korea with tariffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201c<\/span>reciprocal tariffs<\/span><\/a>\u201d threaten to undermine South Korean exports and destabilize global trade, warning that Washington\u2019s protectionist turn could escalate into broader economic and security tensions. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Choi said the government would respond \u201ccool-headedly and flexibly\u201d to Trump\u2019s plan to impose reciprocal tariffs starting April 2, which could hit key South Korean sectors including semiconductors, automobiles and batteries. He confirmed that South Korea will launch a <\/span>working-level consultative body<\/span><\/a> with the U.S. to negotiate tariff exemptions and strengthen cooperation in shipbuilding and energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choi also highlighted growing geopolitical uncertainty as U.S.-Europe divisions deepen and European nations increase defense spending. He said South Korea\u2019s defense industry stands to benefit from Europe\u2019s rearmament push, calling it a \u201cwindow of opportunity\u201d for ROK defense firms. He warned that peace talks between Ukraine and Russia could trigger competition for reconstruction contracts, urging government agencies to support South Korean companies in securing new growth opportunities. Choi emphasized that the government would prioritize national interests while seeking mutually beneficial agreements with Washington.<\/span><\/p>\n

WHY IT MATTERS<\/b><\/p>\n

Choi\u2019s remarks \u2014 his most forceful since becoming acting president \u2014 signal that South Korea is bracing for a direct collision with the \u201carrows of Trump\u2019s America First policies.\u201d With the April 2 deadline looming, Seoul\u2019s ability to secure exemptions for key sectors like semiconductors, automobiles and batteries remains uncertain. Industry minister Ahn Duk-geun previously <\/span>requested<\/span><\/a> tariff exemptions for South Korean goods from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on March 1, but Lutnick remained non-committal on granting South Korea any relief. Choi\u2019s pledge to engage Washington through a working-level consultative body reflects a calculated attempt to shield South Korean exporters while avoiding broader economic fallout.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shipbuilding and Republican lawmakers\u2019 push for increased U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports give Seoul a potential bargaining chip. Increased South Korean LNG imports or cooperation in U.S. shipbuilding could strengthen South Korea\u2019s negotiating position. However, Trump\u2019s belief that South Korea\u2019s average tariff on U.S. imports is \u201c<\/span>four times higher<\/span><\/a>\u201d than U.S. tariffs on South Korean goods will likely complicate trade negotiations and narrow Seoul\u2019s room to maneuver.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s <\/span>suggestion<\/span><\/a> on Monday that his tariffs could trigger a recession in the U.S. has sparked a <\/span>sharp decline<\/span><\/a> in global stock markets. Additionally, the U.S. president\u2019s partial walkback on tariffs against Canada and Mexico signals that Trump is sensitive to domestic supply chain disruptions. This suggests that Trump\u2019s reciprocal tariff threat may not be absolute, creating potential room for South Korea to negotiate more favorable terms with Washington.<\/span><\/p>\n

Business & Economy<\/span><\/a>Domestic Politics<\/span><\/a>Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201creciprocal tariffs\u201d threaten to undermine South Korean exports and destabilize global trade, warning that Washington\u2019s protectionist turn could escalate into broader economic and security tensions. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Choi said the government would respond \u201ccool-headedly and flexibly\u201d to Trump\u2019s plan to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10407,"featured_media":2208693,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[24,27,28],"class_list":["post-2208692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-briefings","tag-business-economy","tag-domestic-politics","tag-inter-korean-foreign-relations"],"yoast_head":"\nChoi warns of economic fallout as Trump targets South Korea with tariffs - Korea Pro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/03\/choi-warns-of-economic-fallout-as-trump-targets-south-korea-with-tariffs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Choi warns of economic fallout as Trump targets South Korea with tariffs - Korea Pro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201creciprocal tariffs\u201d threaten to undermine South Korean exports and destabilize global trade, warning that Washington\u2019s protectionist turn could escalate into broader economic and security tensions. 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