In his message, Trump accused the Seoul government of violating the terms of the trade agreement signed last year.
The tariffs will be increased from the current 15% for a number of goods, including cars, lumber, and pharmaceuticals.
In response, South Korean authorities stated that they had not received official notifications about the new tariff increase and expressed their readiness for prompt negotiations with the American side.
The trade agreement between the U.S. and South Korea was concluded in October 2025 and included a commitment from the latter to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy, part of which was planned for the development of the shipbuilding industry.
The document was submitted for consideration to the National Assembly of South Korea on November 26 and is currently under discussion. According to local media, its approval is expected in February.
