Economy & Trade - Korea Economic Institute of America

Why Shipbuilding is a Silver Lining amid the U.S. Tariff Turmoil

For South Korea, U.S. partnership presents an opportunity for its shipbuilding sector to maintain competitiveness while reducing dependence on China

Je Heon (James) Kim

April 15, 2025

Analysis

Worrying Trends for the South Korean Won

Short-term fears of economic volatility can make people lose confidence in a currency and refuse to hold it, no matter how cheap it gets.

William Brown

April 10, 2025

Analysis

The Beef with Tariffs (II): A Closer Look at Deficit-Driven Tariffs

Without exception, the April 2 tariffs are much larger than the tariffs South Korea and others levy on the United States.

Je Heon (James) Kim

April 8, 2025

Analysis

The Beef With Tariffs (I): South Korea’s True Tariff on U.S. Goods Is Far Lower Than White House Claims

The president held up a placard explaining that nearly every country trading with the United States will be forced to pay heavier tariffs.

Je Heon (James) Kim

April 3, 2025

Analysis

Reciprocal Tariffs and the Trouble with Old Trade Rules

The U.S. position that national security is non-justiciable is fundamentally at odds with the WTO’s insistence on legal discipline.

Hyerim Kim

March 31, 2025

Analysis

How the Trump Administration Views Reciprocal Tariffs

Trump’s tariff saber-rattling is an opportunity to redefine the U.S.-South Korea relationship in a way that advances the national interest.

Nils Wollesen Osterberg

March 13, 2025

Analysis

Transnational Subsidies: Navigating a New Trade Terrain

Once dismissed as an abstract nuisance, transnational subsidies have now become a central concern for countries.

Hyerim Kim

February 24, 2025

Analysis

The Road Ahead for Trump’s Auto Tariffs

The proposed tariff on cars is likely to severely affect U.S.-South Korea economic relations, as well as the U.S. economy itself.

Tom Ramage

February 21, 2025

Analysis

Steel Tariffs Undercut US Strategic Competition in EVs and AI Infrastructure

The second-term trade actions impacting Korea and other countries will deeply affect the US ability to compete in steel-intensive industries.

Tom Ramage

February 14, 2025

Analysis

Decoupling, De-risking, and South Korea’s Strategic Challenges

A return to decoupling could be the trend for the global economy under President Donald Trump’s second term.

Sunhyung Lee

February 10, 2025

Analysis

What Happened: Q4 2024

During a time of political change in both the United States and South Korea, new investments, partnerships, and diplomatic dialogues continued to strengthen the economic...

Nils Wollesen Osterberg

January 31, 2025

Analysis

Political Turbulence Clouds South Korea’s Economic Outlook

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, and his subsequent impeachment on December 14 have plunged the...

Randall S. Jones

January 29, 2025

Analysis

Kim Jong Un’s Risky Year of the Snake

Kim Jong Un continues to fire ballistic missiles into the East Sea/Sea of Japan, showcasing an orderly and stable government. But this may be deceptive,...

William Brown

January 27, 2025

Analysis

Implications of the US Treasury’s Designation of Currency Manipulation for South Korea

The last thing South Korean monetary officials need to hear about is the US Department of the Treasury’s recent addition of South Korea to its...

Hyerim Kim

January 24, 2025

Analysis

Protectionism With Opportunities for US-South Korea Trade Under Trump 2.0

The economic relationship between the United States and South Korea is stronger than ever, but President Donald Trump’s promises of higher US tariffs pose risks...

Nils Wollesen Osterberg

January 22, 2025

Analysis