South Korea’s customs agency has uncovered a surge in efforts to falsely label foreign goods—mostly from China—as South Korean exports in an attempt to bypass steep U.S. tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump, officials said Monday.
The Korea Customs Service (KCS) announced it has detected 29.5 billion won (approximately $20.81 million) in origin-related violations during the first quarter of this year, with 97% of the illicit shipments headed for the United States. This sharp uptick comes amid growing concerns about foreign companies exploiting South Korea’s trade ties with the U.S. to evade punitive tariffs.
The latest figure is already approaching the 34.8 billion won total for all of 2024, when U.S.-bound shipments made up 62% of violations. According to KCS investigation planning director Lee Kwang-woo, the surge in violations follows patterns seen during Trump’s first presidency, when similar tactics were used to sidestep trade restrictions.
“Disguised export attempts increased under Trump’s previous administration, and we expect a comparable trend this time,” Lee said during a press briefing. He added that the KCS had acted preemptively in conducting a special investigation last month, anticipating greater risk as Trump’s tariff policy took effect.
South Korea, a key U.S. ally and party to a free trade agreement with Washington, is seen as an attractive transshipment point for companies—particularly in neighboring China—looking to avoid U.S. trade barriers. On Monday, South Korean customs officials met with their American counterparts to coordinate joint investigations into such practices.
One example highlighted in the KCS report involved 3.3 billion won worth of cathode materials—key components in battery production—that were imported from China but falsely labeled as South Korean before being shipped to the U.S. These shipments took place in January, prior to Trump’s new tariff package but still aimed at dodging existing high U.S. duties on Chinese goods.
President Trump, who began his second term in January, has reintroduced aggressive trade policies, including a 25% tariff on South Korean goods—though this has been temporarily suspended for three months. Meanwhile, tariffs on Chinese imports have soared to 145% following escalating retaliatory measures that have drastically disrupted trade between the world's two largest economies.
South Korean authorities say they will continue to crack down on attempts to exploit the country’s favorable trade status, particularly as global supply chains shift in response to evolving geopolitical tensions.
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Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said on Monday. He was 88, and had recently suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia. Following are reactions to his death:
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has offered to exchange 252 Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador for an equal number of political prisoners detained by Nicolás Maduro's government, prompting both international criticism and a scathing response from Venezuela.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri stormed to victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, overtaking Max Verstappen and rising to the top of the Formula 1 driver standings.
US President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee raised an unprecedented $239 million for the events surrounding his 2025 swearing-in — shattering past records and drawing scrutiny over the outsize influence of billionaires and corporate giants.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said on Monday. He was 88, and had recently suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia. Following are reactions to his death:
A fresh Star Wars adventure is on the way, as Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling officially introduce Star Wars: Starfighter, set to hit cinemas in May 2027.
The 18th meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between Iran and Russia is scheduled to take place in Moscow from April 23 to 25. The event aims to strengthen bilateral collaboration across a wide range of sectors.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has offered to exchange 252 Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador for an equal number of political prisoners detained by Nicolás Maduro's government, prompting both international criticism and a scathing response from Venezuela.
Bulgaria has seen a sharp rise in diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes, including Lyme disease and West Nile fever, with health authorities warning of an urgent need for stricter pest control measures.
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