South Korea Counts On Shipbuilding To Ease US Tariff Woes

Shipbuilding accounted for nearly four percent of South Korea's exports in 2024 and directly employs around one percent of the country's workforce (Credit: AFP)

Asia's fourth largest economy South Korea is facing gruelling tariffs by US President Donald Trump, but its shipbuilding industry could prove a useful bargaining chip.

Already hit by sector levies on steel and car exports, Seoul is laser-focused on negotiations over a 25 percent country-specific tariff that has been suspended until July 8.