S.Korea Trade Minister: Possibility that the trade deal might come after 8 July deadline
South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun said on Friday that “there is a possibility that the trade deal might come after the 8 July deadline.”
Additional comments
- Requested again for a waiver from US tariff measures at the APEC conference.
- South Korea's delegation to visit the US next week for further tariff negotiations.
- Emphasised the importance of the auto and steel sectors during talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
- Has set up formal negotiation framework with the US.
- Next ministerial-level meeting expected to be held in the middle of June.
Market reaction
Following these comments, the US Dollar Index (DXY) remains in the red near 100.70 while the USD/KRW holds the rebound near 1396.
Tariffs FAQs
Tariffs are customs duties levied on certain merchandise imports or a category of products. Tariffs are designed to help local producers and manufacturers be more competitive in the market by providing a price advantage over similar goods that can be imported. Tariffs are widely used as tools of protectionism, along with trade barriers and import quotas.
Although tariffs and taxes both generate government revenue to fund public goods and services, they have several distinctions. Tariffs are prepaid at the port of entry, while taxes are paid at the time of purchase. Taxes are imposed on individual taxpayers and businesses, while tariffs are paid by importers.
There are two schools of thought among economists regarding the usage of tariffs. While some argue that tariffs are necessary to protect domestic industries and address trade imbalances, others see them as a harmful tool that could potentially drive prices higher over the long term and lead to a damaging trade war by encouraging tit-for-tat tariffs.
During the run-up to the presidential election in November 2024, Donald Trump made it clear that he intends to use tariffs to support the US economy and American producers. In 2024, Mexico, China and Canada accounted for 42% of total US imports. In this period, Mexico stood out as the top exporter with $466.6 billion, according to the US Census Bureau. Hence, Trump wants to focus on these three nations when imposing tariffs. He also plans to use the revenue generated through tariffs to lower personal income taxes.
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