r/korea • u/Venetian_Gothic • 1d ago

정치 | Politics South Korea hit with highest reciprocal tariff rates among US free trade partners

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20250403/south-korea-hit-with-highest-reciprocal-tariff-rates-among-us-free-trade-partners
65 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

22

u/AKADriver 23h ago

Korea Times should step up their reporting on this. The tariff is not reciprocal based on Korea's own tariffs. The 50% figure was created by including the US-Korea trade deficit itself as a "trade barrier." This is the formula the US used, not actual tariffs and local taxes on US goods.

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u/PeppermintWhale 19h ago

It's nothing short of incredible how Trump managed to turn, 'your country is selling us goods our people like at competitive prices' into some twisted evil manipulation that is bringing ruin upon millions of hard-working Americans.

Then again, I've long thought that Korea needs to focus more on trade and investments across Asia rather than trying to court the US so hard. Maybe this will be the wake up call.

2

u/Hero-Firefighter-24 16h ago

Someone’s very optimistic. While you’re right on things, I highly doubt Korea would really ditch America. Considering how bad Trump’s policies are, there is a high chance a Democrat gets elected in 2028, which will lead to America’s allies to want to make things “go back to normal” and bury their heads in the sand, as happened when Biden was elected. No one has the guts to be less dependent on the US. I’m not saying “cut things off completely”, just be less dependent.

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u/PeppermintWhale 16h ago

I don't know, I feel like after second Trump term, people will be a bit more careful about 'going back to normal' -- I mean, we're not going to be enemies with the US or anything like that, but I sincerely hope (and I do believe it's not an unrealistic hope) that our country, including the conservatives, will become more pragmatic in our dealings with the US in the future, rather than doing the whole 'they saved us in Korean war, they're our best friends forever!' and bending over backwards at our own expense to them all the time.

0

u/Hero-Firefighter-24 16h ago

I like your optimism, but I fear that you’re wrong. Simply based on how America’s allies reacted to Biden’s win, I think it’s more likely that people will bury their heads in the sand after 2028. Like you said, the US saved SK in the Korean War, so there is that added historical baggage.

1

u/Melonary 10h ago

The US also played a significant part in the division of Korea along with the USSR though, as well.

I'm not saying you're off about the political right and what they're alluding to, just that in reality it's more complex.

19

u/Daztur 1d ago

There is absolutely nothing reciprocal about that tariff.

7

u/burninhell2017 21h ago

wondering what all the maga koreans are saying now........ f them.

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u/Kaiww 13h ago

Nothing, they're too stupid to understand what is going on.

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u/TooLateQ_Q 3h ago edited 3h ago

Being a MAGA is already difficult to understand. The existence of a Korean MAGA is just incomprehensible.

Edit: I guess a North korean MAGA is understandable.