US-Korea Trade Tensions Escalate: $350 Billion Investment Demand Strains Bilateral Relations and Threatens Export Markets

Listeners, in today’s South Korea Tariff News and Tracker, the headlines are dominated by high-stakes negotiations between Seoul and Washington over a new trade deal impacting tariffs on South Korean goods. The Trump administration is demanding that South Korea make a $350 billion upfront investment in the United States in exchange for reducing tariffs on South Korean products from 25% down to 15%. According to statements by South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, Seoul maintains that paying such a large sum in cash is not possible and could push Korea’s economy toward a financial crisis—a position echoed widely in South Korean government circles. Instead, Korea has proposed providing the investment through a mix of loans, guarantees, and equity, but the U.S. has so far insisted on cash.

Reuters reports that, since a handshake deal in July promising lower tariffs, the talks have reached an impasse with the two countries unable to agree on the form or timing of the investment. President Trump, at a recent event, listed South Korea’s commitment alongside other major investments secured from U.S. allies, but Korean officials are clear that such liquidity demands surpass the country’s capacity. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told Reuters last week that, without significant safeguards—namely, a currency swap agreement—Korea’s reserves, which stand at roughly $410 billion, would be severely strained by the upfront payment Trump is requesting. Seoul and Washington are reportedly aiming to use the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to resolve the deadlock and finalize the details of the arrangement.

At the same time, the ongoing U.S. push for new tariffs, particularly those targeting imported electronics, continues to put pressure on South Korean exporters. The U.S., under the Trump administration, is considering so-called "chip tariffs," which industry experts believe will disproportionately affect Korean TV exports. These tariffs target electronics that include a high content of semiconductors—such as smart TVs that rely on advanced system-on-chip technology. According to KBV Research, demand for the high-value “digital TV SoC” market is projected to grow significantly, but rising U.S. tariffs could cut into South Korea’s $3.6 billion annual home appliance export market to America. Furthermore, a recent 50% tariff hike on steel—also introduced by the Trump administration—has already pushed up manufacturing costs, fueling industry anxiety over further tariff escalation.

Current negotiations have also been complicated by unrelated bilateral events, such as the immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, which saw hundreds of South Korean workers arrested. However, Korean officials say they are trying to keep immigration and trade issues separate as they seek solutions, including possible new visa arrangements that could facilitate investment.

Listeners, with the stakes this high for both economies, all eyes are on the final outcome of this deal and the impact of Trump’s tariff policies on Korea’s critical export industries.

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