The Asian nation has yet to ratify the US trade agreement in the National Assembly. The legal step, expected in late February or early March, was considered a formality as South Korea had signaled readiness to accept tariffs of 15% on a range of its most critical exports to the US, including cars and pharmaceuticals.
South Korea had also committed to investing $350 billion (nearly €297 billion) in the US in return for the 15% tariff rate. With Trump flipping the table yet again, analysts warn of a growing sense of discontent with the US in the allied country, which could motivate Seoul to forge closer trade and economic ties with other nations, including China.
