US President Donald Trump raises tariffs on South Korean imports to 25%

Exam-focused facts from the 28 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on South Korean imports from 15% to 25% across automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other reciprocal tariffs.
South Korea exported goods worth about $123 billion to the US last year, with car exports accounting for about $30 billion.
South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will visit Washington to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The October deal included South Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the US, partly in shipbuilding.
The agreement was submitted to South Korea’s National Assembly on 26 November and is likely to be passed in February.