April 2, 2025
Executive Order 14257 invokes IEEPA for 25% South Korea duties
Trump imposes 25% tariffs on ally South Korea citing emergency
🛡️National Security📋Public Policy💰Economy
On Apr. 2, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14257 imposing a 25 percent “reciprocal” duty on most South-Korean imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act (White House EO 14257)
Section 3(b) of EO 14257 pauses tariff collection for 90 days, establishing a negotiation window that ends on Jul. 8, 2025, unless exemption agreements are reached (White House Clarification of Exceptions)
Section 232 (19 U.S.C. §1862) authorizes the president to impose tariffs on national-security grounds—Congress may override such actions only by a two-thirds vote in both chambers (Congress.gov Section 232 explainer)
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signalled that a second-wave Section 232 levy targeting semiconductors will follow the blanket 25 percent tariff (Reuters – Lutnick interview, 2025-04-13)
U.S. electronics imports in 2024 reached approximately $486 billion, making electronics the second-largest import category and subjecting chips and data-center equipment to the new duties (Reuters – Tariffs & data centers)
🛡️National Security📋Public Policy💰Economy
Test Your Knowledge
10
Q1
What tariff rate did Executive Order 14257 set for most South-Korean imports?
Q2
The 25 % duty applies only to finished smartphones, not to OLED screens and other components.
Q3
Which statute lets presidents impose tariffs for “national security” without new legislation?
Q4
EO 14257 pauses the 25 % duty for how many days to allow tariff talks with allies?
Q5
On which date did President Trump sign EO 14257?
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Start QuizPeople, bills, and sources
President Donald Trump
signed Executive Order 14257 on Apr. 2, 2025 to impose a 25 percent tariff on South-Korean goods (White House EO 14257)
Howard Lutnick (U.S. Commerce Secretary)
announced forthcoming chip-specific Section 232 duties in addition to the 25 percent tariff (Reuters – Lutnick interview)
Kim Beom-seok (Acting Finance Minister, South Korea)
warned South Korea “will not hesitate to pursue WTO remedies” if exemption talks fail (Reuters – Policy support package)
Jay Y. Lee (Chair, Samsung)
met President Lee on Jun. 13, 2025 to press for clarity on the U.S. tariff regime (Reuters – Lee meeting)