With a snap election looming, South Korea's rival parties jockeyed for position with vows to focus on the economy and livelihood, but the leaderless country remains hamstrung when it comes to confronting the biggest threat: Trump and tariffs.

South Koreas acting President Han Duck-soo has ordered emergency support measures for industries affected by sweeping new U.S. tariffs, including a 25% tariff on Korean automobile exports. The move follows President

South Korea is preparing an emergency response to address the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on automobiles after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a 25% tariff on all vehicles not manufactured in the U.

April 2, 2025: Trump's Tariff' Liberation Day": Trump announces sweeping tariffs on almost all countries at half the rate the administration claims they charge the U.S. Some Senate Republicans join Democrats in a vote to invalidate Trump's tariffs on Canada.

China, Japan, and South Korea agreed to a joint response to US tariffs after their first economic dialogue in five years. They plan to strengthen supply chains, cooperate on export controls, and pursue a free trade agreement.

When asked about the report, a spokesperson for South Korea's trade ministry said that “the suggestion that there was a joint response to US tariffs appears to have been somewhat exaggerated ...

A 10 percent tariff will apply to all countries, but trading partners like China, Japan and Europe will face rates two and three times as high.

U.S. trading partners reacted from a range of relief to anger after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on trading partners.

TMTPOST -- China, Japan and South Korea officials overseeing economic and trade affairs reached a consensus that three countries should work in close collaboration in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs, according to Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with China Central Television (CCTV).