Trump claims South Korea is not 'living up to' its trade deal with US

The president claimed he reached the agreement with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung but that the deal, which saw the U.S. lower its tariffs against the Asian country to 15%, is being held up by the South Korean legislature.

Published: January 26, 2026 7:41pm

President Donald Trump warned South Korea Monday night that it was not living up to the terms of a trade deal that it made with the United States last year, even as the U.S. met its terms. 

Trump announced the trade deal in October, which saw South Korea agree to invest $350 billion in the U.S. and purchase oil and gas from the United States "in vast quantities," in exchange for the U.S. lowering its tariff rates against the country.

The president claimed he reached the agreement with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung but that the deal, which saw the U.S. lower its tariffs against the Asian country to 15%, is being held up by the South Korean legislature.

"Our Trade Deals are very important to America," Trump posted on Truth Social. "In each of these deals, we have acted swiftly to reduce our tariffs in line with the transaction agreed to. We, of course, expect our trading partners to do the same. 

"South Korea's legislature is not living up to its deal with the United States," he continued. "President Lee and I reached a Great Deal for both Countries on July 30, 2025, and we reaffirmed these terms while I was in Korea on October 29, 2025. Why hasn't the Korean legislature approved it?"

Trump added that because the South Korean legislature has not approved the trade deal, the U.S. was raising all of its reciprocal tariffs, including those on lumber, pharmaceuticals and automobiles, back up to 25%.

It was not immediately clear when the new tariff rate would take effect.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

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