Is Trump pressuring South Korea to lock in deal before US court can strike down tariffs?

President Trump announced on Monday that he would raise tariffs on imports from South Korea to 25%, citing the country's failure to enact their historic trade agreement. The tariffs, which had previously decreased to 15%, will increase on autos, lumber, pharmaceuticals, and other reciprocal tariffs. Trump claims South Korea has not lived up to its trade deal obligations, despite the US having reduced its tariffs. The agreement was finalized after Trump met with South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung last autumn, and included investment commitments from South Korea alongside tariff cuts by the United States. Trump previously imposed 10% tariffs on South Korea after declaring an economic emergency and bypassing US Congressional approval.

On January 27, 2026, US President Donald Trump announced he is raising tariffs on South Korean exports from 15% to 25% due to Seoul's legislature failing to ratify a trade deal agreed upon last year. The higher tariffs would apply to automobiles, lumber, pharmaceutical products, and goods covered under Trump's "reciprocal" tariff. South Korea's presidential office stated they had not received official notification of the tariff increase. In response, South Korean Minister of Trade Kim Jung-Kwan will travel to the US to discuss the matter with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The US and South Korea had previously agreed to a framework trade deal in July, with Trump lowering tariffs on South Korean goods from 25% to 15%.

Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on South Korean goods, including automobiles, lumber, and pharmaceuticals, from 15% to 25%. The reason given was the South Korean legislature's delay in enacting a trade agreement reached last year. South Korea's presidential office stated they were not informed in advance and will send their trade minister to Washington for talks. The agreement, finalized after a meeting between Trump and Lee Jae Myung in October, included investment promises from South Korea and tariff cuts by the US. The deal has faced legal limbo in South Korea, with debate over whether parliamentary approval is required. The auto industry, a significant portion of South Korea's exports to the US, saw shares in carmakers initially fall after the announcement.

President Trump announced the reinstatement of 25% tariffs on South Korea, accusing the country of not adhering to a bilateral trade agreement reached in July 2023. The move has prompted Seoul to seek urgent talks with Washington. Analysts suggest Trump's action aims to pressure South Korea to fulfill investment pledges within the agreement. The timing coincides with delays in South Korea's implementation of these pledges and legal uncertainty surrounding the future of Trump's global tariffs, potentially influencing his strategy. Trump reaffirmed the terms of the deal with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in October 2023 during the APEC summit.

In January 2026, President Trump announced increased tariffs on South Korean exports, reverting them to 25 percent. This reverses a previous agreement from October where tariffs were lowered to 15 percent after South Korea pledged a $350 billion investment in the United States. Trump stated the reason for the increase was South Korea's slow implementation of the investment deal, specifically citing delays in the National Assembly. However, South Korean officials maintain that the agreement doesn't require parliamentary ratification, as it was a memorandum of understanding, not a treaty. The announcement caught South Korea off guard, as they claim Washington had not officially informed them of the tariff increase.