Yesterday, Trump announced on a social media platform that the tariffs on South Korean cars, timber and other goods would be raised from 15% to 25%, citing the South Korean National Assembly's failure to approve the previous US-South Korea trade and security agreement. The agreement was finalized by the two heads of state last October, and the US had previously reduced the tariff on South Korean cars to 15%. Nearly half of South Korean car exports go to the United States, and the tariff increase will make them less competitive than Japanese and European ones.
[Witty] Trump once again waved the tariff stick against South Korea, changing his stance very quickly, treating allies as mere bargaining chips. Previously, he had persuaded South Korea to sign an agreement exchanging investments for tariff reductions. Now, just because the National Assembly didn't pass it, he tore it up. The face of American trade hegemony has been fully exposed. South Korean car exports rely on the US market for nearly half of their sales. This tariff blow directly hits the core, making their competitiveness far worse than that of Japan and Europe. On one hand, it demands South Korea to cooperate in all aspects, and on the other hand, it keeps exploiting benefits. Such an alliance relationship is nothing more than America's one-sided demands and takeaways!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855424725086208/
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