President Donald Trump announced plans to hike tariffs on South Korean imports to 25%, up from the current 15%. He cited the South Korean legislature’s failure to ratify a trade deal finalized in late 2025 as the primary reason for the increase. The move targets key sectors including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and lumber.
Despite the news, South Korean equities remained resilient. The benchmark Kospi index rebounded from early losses to hit new record highs, largely supported by intense dip buying. Key highlights from the market reaction include:
Investors appear to be looking past the protectionist rhetoric, focusing instead on strong domestic earnings. However, the 10% rate hike remains a significant hurdle for the economy if finalized.
Markets traded cautiously ahead of key inflation data and amid ongoing trade and geopolitical uncertainty.
Markets remained cautious as a new 10% U.S. global tariff weighed on risk sentiment. The euro and pound stayed under pressure near recent lows, while the yen rebounded on renewed speculation around Bank of Japan tightening.
Global markets remained cautious as a new 10% U.S. global tariff came into force, keeping trade uncertainty at the center of investor focus.
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