On July 8, US President Donald Trump announced that he would impose a 25% tariff on all imported goods from Japan and South Korea. This is a move that is believed to increase trade pressure on the two East Asian countries, while encouraging businesses to shift production to the US.
According to information from the White House, official letters have been sent to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, clearly stating that the 25% tariff will be applied to all goods originating from the two countries, starting from August 1, 2025. This tariff measure will be completely separate from the previous industry taxes, meaning that all imported goods regardless of type will be subject to higher tariffs.
However, the White House also made it clear that Japanese and Korean companies could be exempted from tariffs if their production activities were carried out directly in the United States. This shows that the Trump administration is continuing to maintain a protectionist trade policy while seeking to attract foreign investment to the United States through tariff incentives.
This new move is likely to have a strong impact on the economic relations between the United States and Japan and South Korea, as well as significantly affect the global supply chain. Experts warn that without a reasonable negotiated solution, the trade conflict between the three countries could escalate, destabilizing the international market.
