South Korea Asks U.S. Trade Office to Revise Proposed 12.5 Percent Tariff

The South Korean Embassy in Washington submitted comments on July 7 urging the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to revise a proposed 12.5 percent tariff on South Korean goods. Yonhap reported that the tariff targets alleged shortcomings in enforcing bans on products made with forced labor.

The USTR has conducted Section 301 investigations into 60 countries, including South Korea, China and Japan. The proposed tariffs form part of an effort by the Trump administration to replace reciprocal tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court in February. In its filing the embassy stated that South Korea shares U.S.

Concerns about forced labor in supply chains. It added that the USTR's conclusion that South Korea imports such goods and burdens U.S. commerce lacks both a factual basis and sufficient analysis of the country's specific circumstances.

The embassy outlined South Korea's existing measures, including a domestic legal framework, ratification of international obligations and steps to encourage private-sector exclusion of forced-labor goods. It also cited last year's South Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet that pledged joint action against such imports.

The embassy said the proposed action is unwarranted and disproportionate. It asked the USTR to grant South Korea more favorable treatment than the initial proposal if tariffs are imposed and to reach a final decision reflecting strong bilateral ties under the Strategic Trade and Investment Deal.