US Tariff Exposure
US Tariffs on South Korea
Updated August 2026 · source: USTR Section 301 & Federal Register
Hyundai, Kia, Samsung, and LG are all Korean. A 25% tariff means that new Hyundai Tucson could cost $7,000+ more, and Samsung TVs and appliances will see significant price hikes at Best Buy.
South Korea tariff rates by sector
| Sector | US tariff rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| patented pharmaceuticals and associated pharmaceutical ingredients | 15% | USTR / official |
South Korea trade & debt exposure to the US
- U.S. Treasury Holdings $105.7B Major East Asian holder
- Trade Deficit (Annual) $44.1B 2024 goods trade deficit
- U.S. Agency Bonds $48B Government-backed securities
South Korea tariffs — FAQ
What is the US tariff rate on South Korea?
South Korea faces an effective US tariff of 15%, with patented pharmaceuticals and associated pharmaceutical ingredients seeing the highest sector rate at 15%. Rates are drawn from USTR Section 301 schedules and recent Federal Register actions.
Which South Korea sectors are hit hardest by US tariffs?
patented pharmaceuticals and associated pharmaceutical ingredients (15%).
What does South Korea's tariff impact score mean?
17/100 — FinBrio's impact score combines the headline tariff rate, how many sectors are affected, and the country's trade exposure to the US into a single 0–100 measure of how hard US trade policy hits it.
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