In 2024 a heavy export, and in April 2025 a new investigation

In 2024, semiconductors accounted for about 20 percent of Korea's exports, and Korea was the world's largest memory producer. Exports to the United States that year came to about 10.6 billion dollars. In the first half of 2025, U.S.-bound shipments were about 7 billion dollars, a flow already large enough to be felt if a new tariff bit. The American CHIPS and Science Act had already pulled investment toward plants on U.S. soil.

On 13 April 2025 a social-media post signaled a new turn, and on 14 April the U.S. Department of Commerce opened a Section 232 investigation into semiconductors. On 15 April 2025 the Korean government answered with a 33 trillion won support package, including 20 trillion won in low-interest loans and money for cluster infrastructure. In a 30 July 2025 trade arrangement, most-favored-nation treatment in semiconductors was secured orally, though limited to a 15 percent tariff cap.

In August 2025, a tariff near 100 percent, and a then-record month

In early August 2025, after a White House meeting with Tim Cook, a tariff of about 100 percent was announced; some application was dated from 7 August 2025, with grace until 5 October for cargo already shipped. Firms building U.S. plants — TSMC, Samsung and SK Hynix — were described as exempt. On 25 August 2025 a summit with Lee Jae-yong and Chey Tae-won produced no new investment announcement. On 30 August 2025 the Commerce Department revoked Validated End User status for Samsung and SK Hynix plants in China, a status granted in 2023 under the Biden administration.

In August 2025, Korean semiconductor exports rose 27.1 percent, to 15.1 billion dollars, a then-record, even as uncertainty rose with them. In 2025, a 25 percent tariff was put at more than 5 trillion won a year in industry losses, and a 100 percent tariff at more than 10 trillion; those are period estimates, not later official tallies. A 2025 growth-rate remark — 1.0 percent expected, possibly cut by 0.5 percentage points or more — is a forecast of that year, not a later official outturn. The same Korean report, at fuller length, is on CampusDown.

Sources

1. Korea–U.S. semiconductor trade in 2025. CHIPS and Science Act. Section 232 investigation opened 14 April 2025, after a 13 April social-media post. Korean 33 trillion won package, 15 April 2025 (20 trillion won in low-interest loans, cluster infrastructure). Oral most-favored-nation treatment in a 30 July 2025 arrangement, limited to a 15 percent tariff cap. Early August 2025 announcement of a tariff of about 100 percent; application from 7 August 2025; grace until 5 October for already-shipped cargo; U.S.-plant builders described as exempt. 25 August 2025 summit with Lee Jae-yong and Chey Tae-won, no new investment announced. Validated End User status for Samsung and SK Hynix China plants revoked 30 August 2025 (status granted in 2023). In 2024, semiconductors about 20 percent of Korean exports; about 10.6 billion dollars to the U.S.; first-half 2025 U.S.-bound about 7 billion dollars. August 2025 exports up 27.1 percent, to 15.1 billion dollars, a then-record. 2025-period estimates: 25 percent tariff more than 5 trillion won a year, 100 percent more than 10 trillion. 2025 growth-rate remark (1.0 percent, possibly cut 0.5pp or more) is a period forecast, not a later official outturn.

Last updated: 14 November 2026