Expert's view on how S. Korea could shield itself from Trump's tariffs

Welcome to Within the Frame, where we invite experts to give their insights on the issues that matter.

I am Kim Bo-kyoung, filling in for Kim Mok-yeon for today.

The world has been facing Trump's series of tariffs, including the recent 25-percent tariff on foreign auto parts added on existing ones on imported cars.

Amid tough tariffs impositions, Washington's fierce trade talks with each country have been ongoing, with Seoul aiming to remove tariffs on the country by July and shield its industries from the latest duties.

How does an expert forecast tariff talks to go and how should South Korea deal with it?

For more on this, we invited Troy Stangarone, Former Senior Director at the Korea Economic Institute into the studio.

Welcome Mr. Stangarone.

1. Last Tuesday marked the 100th day of President Trump's second term, and it has certainly been chaotic—particularly regarding his trade and tariff policies. Overall, how did you see his first 100 days in office?

2. All these, to make America great again, but for now it seems the economy is dealing with the shock. The U.S. economy contracted in the first three months of this year, driven in part by a surge in imports. This marked the first quarter of negative growth since 2022. How did you see the economic impact?

3. Let's delve a little bit deeper into new tariffs that recently took effect, the tariffs on auto parts. Many analysts say these could have a greater impact on the automotive industry than the earlier tariffs on finished vehicle imports. Why is this the case?

4. With multiple rounds of tariffs targeting both imported cars and auto parts, Korean companies—including Hyundai Motor, Kia, and others in the auto parts and tire industries—are scrambling to respond. What advice would you offer these companies?

5. Let's turn our eyes to Washington's trade talks. Top U.S. officials -Scott Bessent and Jamieson Greer, are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation in Geneva, for the most-senior known conversations between the two countries. How do you forecast the trade talks will go between these two countries?

6. We should also talk about the Washington-Seoul talks. The Korean government is hoping to have some tariffs removed by July, potentially using areas like shipbuilding and LNG as leverage. First of all, do you believe these could effectively serve as bargaining chips for South Korea?

7. South Korea is currently facing an unprecedented leadership vacuum. With Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok—who had been building a rapport with his U.S. counterpart Bessent—no longer in office, some experts warn that negotiations may become more difficult. Should this be a cause for concern?

8. Even if trade talks between Seoul and Washington are resolved, there are lingering concerns that the U.S.-China trade war could still negatively impact the Korean economy, if prolonged. What is your view on this?

9. Amid such widespread political and economic uncertainty, what advice would you offer South Korea in navigating President Trump's evolving tariff strategy?

That will be all the questions I have for you today, Mr. Stangarone.

Thank you so much for your insights and your time.

We really appreciate it.