US Tariff on Electronics from South Korea

South Korea is a major electronics exporter to the US, led by Samsung, LG, and SK Hynix. The base tariff is 10%, with KORUS FTA potentially reducing it to 0%.

Rate structure: 0% MFN (ITA) + 10% Section 122 = 10% total. However, the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) may eliminate tariffs on qualifying electronics. KORUS has progressively eliminated tariffs on most goods since 2012, and many electronics categories now qualify for 0% duty if rules of origin are met.

South Korea's top electronics exports to the US include: Samsung smartphones and displays, LG displays and home appliances, SK Hynix memory chips (DRAM, NAND), Samsung semiconductors, automotive electronics (Hyundai/Kia systems), and lithium-ion batteries (Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution).

The SCOTUS ruling benefited South Korea significantly — the IEEPA rate was 25%, so the drop to 10% Section 122 saved 15 percentage points. Combined with KORUS preferences, South Korean electronics are now among the most competitively priced imports.

For KORUS qualification, electronics must meet rules of origin — typically requiring substantial transformation or a certain percentage of regional value content. Many Samsung and LG products manufactured in South Korea qualify. Products assembled in South Korea using Chinese components may or may not qualify depending on the degree of transformation.

South Korea also benefits from a special steel/aluminum arrangement: a quota system rather than the 50% Section 232 tariff that most countries face. This makes South Korean steel and aluminum components used in electronics manufacturing more cost-effective.

Compared to China (35%), South Korea offers a 25-percentage-point advantage. Versus Japan and Taiwan (both 10%), South Korea's KORUS FTA gives it a potential edge for qualifying goods.