KOTRA's 'Customs Response 119' Sees Surge in Customs Broker Inquiries... Impact of Trump's Tariff Bombardment

Surge in Customs Broker Consultations Amid Trump's Tariff Bomb
SMEs on Edge Over Additional Tariffs from Mexico and Canada
Customs Brokers Join Forces with U.S. Tariff Policy Seminar

The customs broker industry has become busy responding to the rapidly changing tariff policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. As President Trump continues to impose additional tariffs by country and product category, more companies are relying on customs brokers to minimize damage.

According to the business community on the 28th, inquiries from customs brokers and customs law firms to 'Customs Response 119,' operated by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), have recently surged. In particular, after additional tariffs were announced not only on the U.S. but also on Mexico, Canada, and China, the number of consultations by customs brokers reportedly increased to levels comparable to those of companies.

Kang Kyung-sung, president of KOTRA, stated at a press briefing held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, the previous day, "We have been receiving many calls from customs brokers, and there are increasing cases of them obtaining the latest overseas information on the U.S., China, Mexico, etc., and consulting their client companies."

Customs brokers are professionals who handle companies' import and export customs clearance procedures and even manage disputes and litigation related to tariff imposition. Recently, as the Trump administration announced plans to impose additional tariffs of 25% on products from Mexico and Canada and 10% on those from China, the role of customs brokers has become even more important.

Especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many have used Mexico and Canada as key bases for entering the U.S. market. Customs brokers are actively proposing measures to minimize additional tariffs for these clients, such as changing transportation routes or shipping lanes.

A legal industry insider familiar with the sector said, "Due to the rapid changes in U.S. tariff policies, customs brokers are feeling a significant burden in responding to client companies. Since SMEs are a major client base, work has recently been concentrated on customs brokers."

To meet such corporate demands, customs brokers have recently been independently researching trends and prospects of U.S. tariff policies and working hard to devise countermeasures.

On the 27th of next month, a seminar on the overall tariff systems of the U.S. and South Korea will be held at Seoul Customs, hosted by the Customs Valuation Research Association. Customs brokers, legal professionals, and customs officials will attend this event to discuss changes in U.S. tariff policies and response strategies for domestic companies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.