Much Ado About Tariffs? Implications of the Trump Tariffs for South Korea
J. James Kim [Director of Public Opinion and External Relations, Korea Economic Institute of America]
▶ The Trump administration’s
latest tariff measures against South Korea rest on shaky analytical and legal
grounds.
▶ The supposed justification
of “reciprocity” is undermined by flawed assumptions and methodological
inconsistencies.
▶ The weaponization of
tariffs risks weakening long-standing relationships at a time when global
economic and security challenges require deeper cooperation.
▶ South Korea can turn the challenge of U.S. tariffs into an opportunity by leveraging trade negotiations to secure favorable investment conditions in key sectors, strengthen bilateral ties, expand its manufacturing footprint in the U.S., and deepen cooperation with other strategic partners.
