According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the agreement secures “significant concessions from South Korea,” including $350 billion in investments in key U.S. industries and $100 billion in energy resource purchases. The deal also eliminates non-tariff barriers in industrial and agricultural trade.
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that South Korea would make substantial investments in the U.S. economy. Specific figures are expected to be disclosed during the upcoming White House visit of South Korea’s newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, within the next two weeks. “We have also reached an agreement that South Korea will be fully open to trade with the U.S., including for American cars, trucks, and agricultural goods. A 15% tariff on imports from Korea has been agreed. No U.S. goods will be subject to tariffs,” Trump emphasized.
As of 2024, South Korea ranks as the sixth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products, with total exports valued at $8.5 billion. In 2023, the U.S. remained South Korea’s leading supplier of agricultural goods, exporting $8.8 billion worth of products—mainly beef and pork.
However, despite the bilateral agreement on full market access for U.S. beef, several restrictions remain. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), South Korea still enforces a long-standing rule requiring all U.S. beef products to originate from cattle under 30 months of age. Additionally, South Korea continues to ban processed beef products such as patties, jerky, and sausages, and maintains strict residue limits for agrochemicals and veterinary drugs.
Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), thanked the Trump administration for prioritizing trade talks with South Korea and expressed hope that the new deal will help remove non-tariff barriers hindering American beef exports.
Still, the outlook for beef exporters remains uncertain. According to Reuters, South Korean officials stated that there are no current plans to further open the beef market, and discussions on U.S. food safety standards are ongoing.
PigUA.info based on materials from feedstuffs.com