In his first address to a joint session of Congress after returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump left nothing to the imagination regarding his policy going forward. Criticising “friend and foe”, Trump suggested that South Korea imposes an average tariff on the US four times higher than vice versa, although Washington has helped Seoul “militarily and in so many other ways”.
Advertisement
While the basis for his complaint is shaky as South Korea has actually eliminated most tariffs on the US under a free-trade agreement, Trump’s remarks are indicative of what is to follow in his second term.
Between imposing trade tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico while considering more on the European Union and rolling back security assurances while losing interest in upholding the rules-based order, Trump has ushered in a new era of transactional diplomacy in which US interests are given primacy. Regarding South Korea, Trump’s comments are not just restricted to the economic realm but go further, bringing various aspects of the alliance under strain.
So far in his second term, Trump has pursued a policy favouring domestic industrial production over trading with foreign countries, re-evaluating military alliance commitments and redefining alliances as per immediate strategic requirements. Trump has unilaterally put US preferences ahead of all other priorities, decisively breaking from Biden-era policies which focused on collaboration with allies.
For now, sitting on the sidelines of a brewing world order, South Korea has its share of concerns too. Other than the talk of tariffs and of scraping the Chips and Science Act, a move which could impact the South Korean economy, Seoul has been apprehensive about Washington’s security commitments to the region.
Advertisement
In the run-up to the presidential election, Trump indicated his plan for greater defence cost-sharing with South Korea. His insistence on interacting directly with Pyongyang rather than involving Seoul has also been a cause for concern.