The relationship between South Korea and the United States faces new tensions as President Donald Trump announces fresh tariffs, despite previous trade agreements between the two nations. The latest development shows how quickly trade relationships can change under the current U.S. administration.
In a move that surprised many, Trump declared he would put a 25% tariff on South Korean exports beginning August 1, unless the country agrees to make more trade concessions, part of Trump’s broader tariff strategy targeting multiple countries. This announcement comes even though South Korea had already made significant compromises in previous negotiations.
According to MSNBC, South Korea handed Trump his first trade victory in 2018 when they agreed to new restrictions on their steel exports and allowed more U.S. cars to be sold in their country. At the time, Trump called this agreement “a historic milestone” and praised it as being fair and good for workers in both countries.
The previous agreement failed to protect South Korea from new demands
The 2018 deal, while modest in scope, was seen as a way for South Korea to maintain peaceful trade relations with the United States. When Trump first took office in January, South Korea believed it was in a good position to handle any trade challenges that might come its way.
Trump has now sent new tariff threats to 23 countries, including some of America's closest allies like Canada, Japan, & South Korea
— Joey Politano
The highest threat was 50% tariffs on Brazil, but *no* threat has been under 20%, which would be considered a massive trade war pre-Trump pic.twitter.com/uQHjDEGX9G(@JosephPolitano) July 11, 2025
However, the latest tariff threat has shown that even countries willing to negotiate and make concessions aren’t safe from sudden policy changes, as Trump’s tariff chaos continues to destabilize relationships with close allies. The situation has made it clear to many foreign leaders that dealing with the current U.S. administration can be unpredictable.
This pattern of breaking deals has become more common in Trump’s second term. He has ended more trade agreements than he has created new ones. Even after making a big trade deal with Canada and Mexico during his first term, Trump later started a new trade war with these countries.
The president’s actions in trade negotiations have led some to suggest a new nickname for him: the “dealbreaker-in-chief,” rather than his preferred “dealmaker-in-chief.” This latest move against South Korea adds to a growing list of examples where Trump has changed course on trade deals, leaving other countries uncertain about their trading future with the United States.
