Tariff Response 119 Webinar: Expert Lecture Key Summary
As the United States' high-tariff policies took full effect in 2025, Korean exporters began feeling the real impact of tariff shocks. In response, KOTRA's Tariff Response 119 organized an emergency expert webinar — a 2-hour 30-minute session (254MB video) featuring five specialists including customs brokers, clearance experts, and trade attorneys. With more than 500 corporate representatives attending live and over 50 Q&A items addressed in real time, this article summarizes the webinar's core content session by session.
In the first half of 2025, the United States' reciprocal tariff on Korea (10%) took effect alongside Section 232 measures on steel and aluminum, a 25% tariff on automobiles, and semiconductor-related export controls — all converging at once. The estimated direct annual impact on Korean exports has been projected at up to USD 20 billion. The webinar classified these overlapping tariff issues by type and presented countermeasures companies can implement immediately.
Session 1: US Tariff Policy Outlook and Impact Analysis
The first session provides an overview of the full landscape of US tariff policy. It analyzes the legal basis and expansion paths of Section 301 (tariffs targeting China), Section 232 (steel and aluminum), the 25% automobile tariff, and reciprocal tariffs, as well as their sector-by-sector impact on Korean exports. The session especially emphasizes that the Trump administration's tariff philosophy of "Reciprocity" will serve as a key variable in future negotiations.
| Tariff Type | Legal Basis | Rate | Annual Impact on Korea Exports | Expansion Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reciprocal Tariff | Modified Section 301 | 10% (base) | $5B+ direct impact | Item-by-item negotiations |
| Steel & Aluminum | Section 232 Trade Expansion Act | 25% / 10% | $3B export impact | Quota system maintained |
| Auto & Parts | Section 232 Trade Expansion Act | 25% | $12B US-bound exports | Parts expansion under review |
| China Section 301 | Section 301 Trade Act | Up to 100% | Indirect (supply chain disruption) | More items under review |
| Semiconductor Export Controls | EAR/ITAR | Restricted (license req'd) | Indirect (equipment exports) | Ongoing tightening |
The instructor highlighted the "dual pressure" facing Korean companies. While tariffs are imposed on direct exports to the United States, indirect export routes via China — supplying intermediate goods destined for the US market — are also blocked by Section 301 and export controls. The lecture argued that supply chain restructuring is no longer optional but a mandatory strategy.
Sessions 2–3: Rules of Origin and Tariff Drawback Practice
Sessions 2 and 3 cover the most operationally focused content: rules of origin determination, optimal FTA utilization, three types of tariff drawback, and the use of US Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs). These sessions also generated the highest concentration of participant Q&A throughout the webinar.
| FTA | Origin Criteria | Cumulation | Key Utilization Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| KORUS FTA | HS tariff shift or 35%+ value added | Intra-regional cumulation available | Core mechanism for Korea-US zero-tariff maintenance |
| Korea-EU FTA | HS tariff shift or 40%+ value added | Intra-regional cumulation available | Export diversification to European markets |
| RCEP | Tariff shift or 40% value added | Cumulation across 15 member states | Count BD/Vietnam processes as Korean-origin |
| GSP (BD→US) | LDC preference; some items 35%+ value added | Limited cumulation | For Bangladesh re-export routing evaluation |
Sessions 4–5: Corporate Response Strategies and Government Support Programs
The final sessions synthesize tailored response strategies by company size and sector, along with a comprehensive overview of government support programs newly established in 2025 for tariff-affected businesses. The sessions present a three-phase roadmap — short-term (immediate action), medium-term (6 months to 1 year), and long-term (1 year or more) — and summarize programs from five agencies: KOTRA, KSURE, KExim Bank, KOSME, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).
The Bangladesh utilization strategy highlighted during the webinar is as follows. Bangladesh is a beneficiary of US GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) for developing countries, and processing Korean raw materials locally before exporting to the United States can reduce tariffs on select product categories. However, this approach requires meeting rules-of-origin requirements, and consulting the KOTRA Dhaka Trade Office for local entity establishment is strongly recommended.
Webinar Material Usage Guide
The 254MB webinar recording and presentation materials are available for download after logging in to the KOTRA Tariff Response portal. The video is provided in session-by-session segments, and the presentation slides (PDF) and full Q&A transcript are distributed together. The content may be used for internal corporate training; copyright belongs to KOTRA.