As the Korea-U.S. tariff talks wrapped up, easing uncertainty, an outlook emerged that next year's export environment will be tough. Advice is that strategy for entering the U.S. market should be reviewed carefully, and efforts to diversify exports should be stepped up.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) said on the 21st that it co-hosted the "2025 U.S. market entry seminar" with the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 20th. Now in its seventh year, the seminar is designed to provide information and strategy to domestic corporations preparing to enter the U.S. market or expand their existing businesses.
Kim Jong-deok, head of trade, commerce, and security at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), said, "With the Korea-U.S. talks wrapping up at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, uncertainty appears to have eased somewhat," but noted, "Because U.S. external economic policy is intertwined with structural issues such as weakening manufacturing competitiveness, deepening income inequality, and checks on China, it is difficult to expect major changes."
Kim added, "This suggests that the global economy and export environment next year will not be entirely positive for Korea," and said, "Going forward, corporations need to strengthen monitoring of the U.S. political situation and policy direction, trends and outcomes of negotiations with major countries, key economic indicators, and conditions in U.S. financial markets."
Kim continued, "In particular, with the conclusion of talks with the United States, corporations should meticulously review their strategies for entering the U.S. market, while at the same time paying attention to expansion into other regions that have been neglected."
Advice is that mid-sized corporations that have entered the United States should reexamine their expense and production structures. Director Kim Sun-hyeong of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) said, "The United States' mutual 15% tariff regime and the reorganization of global supply chains are demanding significant changes across domestic corporations' expense structures and price competitiveness."
Kim added, "In particular, mid-sized corporations are facing an environment where tariff, transfer pricing, and regulatory responses are intricately intertwined, so in the short term, an accurate diagnosis of tariff impacts and a readjustment of transfer pricing strategy are needed, and in the mid to long term, optimization of U.S.-based production and procurement structures is necessary."
In opening remarks, AMCHAM Chairman and CEO James Kim said, "One of AMCHAM's core roles is to lay a solid foundation so that Korean corporations can confidently take on the U.S. market and succeed," adding, "We will remain a steadfast partner so that domestic corporations can accurately understand the U.S. policy environment and achieve sustainable growth."