Middle Market Enterprises: "Korea-U.S. Tariff Deal Is the Best Outcome and a Historic Moment"

Middle Market Enterprises Respond to Korea-U.S. Tariff Agreement

The Korea Federation of Middle Market Enterprises evaluated the conclusion of the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations as "the best possible outcome achieved under the harsh logic of power in the international community, and a historic moment that reveals the government's agonizing efforts and decisive actions in this fierce struggle."

In a statement on the 30th, the Federation said, "Going forward, not only the 150 billion dollar 'Masga Project' but also the entire annual 20 billion dollar cash investment process must be thoroughly managed based on close communication between the public and private sectors to ensure that losses for our companies, national interests, and foreign exchange market do not increase."

The Federation added, "The confirmed 15% reduction in automobile tariffs will serve as a crucial opportunity to resolve uncertainties across related industries and enhance management stability. Efforts must also be made to establish irreversible safeguards to prevent further fluctuations from recurring."

However, concerns were expressed regarding the imposition of a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum derivatives, which directly affects numerous industries. The Federation stated, "By swiftly lifting unilateral trade and commerce sanctions, we can prevent the decline in our industrial competitiveness. At the same time, policy support should be strengthened to increase export financing, provide overseas market information and certification assistance, and diversify away from dependence on specific countries, including the United States, thereby enhancing resilience."

The Federation also highly praised President Lee Jaemyung's decisive request for the construction of nuclear-powered submarines and President Trump's prompt approval. The Federation emphasized, "Continuous efforts must be made to revise the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Agreement, which is set to expire in 2035, as a shortcut to resolving security, industrial, and environmental issues-such as securing nuclear armament potential, enhancing nuclear fuel production capabilities to strengthen the nuclear power industry, and addressing the temporary storage capacity crisis for reprocessed nuclear materials."

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