South Korea Industry Chief Sees US Holding Tariff at 15%

Newsquawk · 2026-09-30

According to Yonhap, the South Korean Industry Minister stated that Washington is expected to keep the tariff rate on South Korea steady at 15%. Meanwhile, US President Trump noted that his administration is currently reviewing the UK base incident and Iran, promising an answer very shortly. Trump also mentioned having productive talks with Chinese President Xi regarding political prisoners. Historically, once headline tariff rates are settled following negotiations, they tend to persist until formal reviews or fresh disputes emerge, making the minister's assessment a signal of continuity rather than a shift. Financial markets are closely watching how this trajectory aligns with expectations already priced into the won and key export sectors like autos, steel, and semiconductors. Observers note that because these remarks reflect one side's interpretation of US intentions, market participants await official confirmation from Washington, related paperwork, and clarity on whether the 15% rate covers specific sector levies.

AI 시장 분석

According to the Minister of Trade, the U.S. is likely to maintain the tariff rate on South Korean products at 15%. This acts as a factor easing uncertainties for key export industries such as automobiles, steel, and semiconductors. Investors should closely monitor future official confirmation from the U.S. and potential additional imposition measures.

상승 영향

Automobiles — As the likelihood of the U.S. maintaining the tariff rate at 15% increases, uncertainties regarding exports to the U.S. are alleviated, which is positive for defending price competitiveness.
Steel — By avoiding the worst-case scenario of tariff hikes, the risk of a sharp drop in export volume is limited, which is advantageous for defending earnings.

DYAX 전담 분석

The outlook that the U.S. will maintain the tariff rate on South Korea at the 15% level is a figure already partially reflected in the market during past negotiation processes, but it contributes to the stabilization of export companies' valuations in that it limits the risk of additional tariff hikes. In particular, sectors with a high proportion of exports to the U.S., such as automobiles and steel, are laying the groundwork to avoid the worst-case scenario and maintain price competitiveness.

The future bullish scenario is when the possibility of additional sector-specific exceptions or tariff reductions emerges through official statements from Washington, while the bearish scenario is when U.S. authorities impose additional punitive tariffs on individual items. Investors should watch the movement of the KRW/USD exchange rate and subsequent trade policy announcements by the U.S. administration as key indicators.

AI가 생성한 분석으로 투자 자문이 아닙니다.

DYAX Investor Sentiment

Bullish (Long) 39% · Bearish (Short) 61%

359 participants

Related News

원문 보기 — Newsquawk