The Tariff Agency announced on the 25th that it will conduct origin verification for high-risk items suspected of disguising their origin as Korean among goods exported using the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
This verification is implemented to prevent the decline in the origin credibility of Korean export goods, which could harm our exporting corporations.
The Tariff Agency will analyze import and export customs data focusing on items subject to anti-dumping tariffs from the United States, which have a high possibility of circumvention, as well as key origin verification items from U.S. customs authorities, while closely checking for potential violations of FTA regulations by exporting corporations.
In cases where corporations mistakenly issue certificates of origin due to misunderstanding or simple error of FTA regulations, individual consulting will be provided to prevent recurrence and support the enhancement of corporations' capabilities.
Additionally, trends in export verification of major agreement signatory countries such as the United States and the European Union (EU) will be periodically posted on the FTA portal website to help our corporations quickly grasp overseas trends and prepare in advance.
On the other hand, strict measures will be taken against corporations that improperly issue certificates of origin for offshore goods, disguising them as Korean products for export, thereby harming the national credibility.
Kwak Gwang-hyo, head of the Tariff Agency, noted, "In a situation where uncertainty in external conditions is deepened due to U.S. tariff policies, it is crucial for exporting corporations to accurately comply with FTA origin regulations to prevent potential disadvantages in the future."
After the completion of the planned verification, the Tariff Agency plans to disclose key violations and points to note to help exporting corporations utilize origin management.