▲ This file photo shows South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 8, 2025. (Yonhap)

S Korea-US-EU tariffs

S. Korea signals careful assessment, response after U.S. moves to raise tariffs on EU

SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will carefully assess how the Trump administration's move to raise tariffs on the European Union (EU)'s autos and trucks could affect its own trade deal with the United States and respond accordingly, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Saturday.

The comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday (local time) that his administration will increase tariffs on cars and trucks from the EU to 25 percent next week, from the 15 percent rate agreed under last year's tariff deal. Prior to the agreement, the rate had been set at 27.5 percent.

The announcement draws attention in Seoul, as South Korea has a similar tariff deal with the U.S. under which the rate was reduced to 15 percent from 25 percent.

"We will monitor related developments, analyze potential impact on us and respond accordingly," a Cheong Wa Dae official said by phone, saying the government has been closely watching related developments.

"The government is closely and frequently communicating with the U.S. side to discuss ways to implement our tariff agreement with the U.S. and we will continue efforts to ensure that South Korea-U.S. trade relations are managed in a stable manner," the official said.

While Trump cited the EU's failure to comply with the trade deal as the reason for raising the tariffs, some observers see the move as payback for the bloc's refusal to heed his calls to support U.S. efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, including by sending warships to escort merchant vessels through the waterway.

Speaking about the strait, Trump has also singled out South Korea as one of the countries "not being helpful" to the U.S, despite the U.S. troop presence on the Korean Peninsula that he said has helped protect the ally.

The Cheong Wa Dae official declined to further comment on the U.S.-EU tariff deal in light of its potential impact on Korean products, only adding that the government will continue to work to protect its interests under the agreement with the U.S.

"We will respond based on the principles of maintaining the balance of benefits under the existing South Korea-U.S. agreement and ensuring treatment no less favorable than that given to other countries," the official said.

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