10%, 12.5%, or 15%: Which U.S. Tariff Applies to Korean Goods? [GeXPs26-0819EN]
U.S. TARIFF UPDATE · KOREAN GOODS · SECTION 301
10%, 12.5%, or 15%: Which U.S. Tariff Applies to Korean Goods?
A practical product-level guide for U.S. importers and Korean exporters.
If you import a product from Korea, should you budget 10%, 12.5%, 15%, or something else? The answer cannot be determined from the shipping country alone. It depends on country of origin, the HTSUS classification, the normal MFN rate, exclusions, and any separate trade remedy.
Why do 10%, 12.5%, and 15% all appear?
10% referred to the temporary Section 122 import surcharge that ran from February 24 through July 24, 2026. It should not automatically be carried into a post-July 24 calculation.
12.5% is the current adjustment benchmark for covered goods from Korea, Japan, and Switzerland under the July 2026 Section 301 action. It is not necessarily an extra 12.5 percentage points on top of the MFN rate.
15% may refer to an earlier Korea-related tariff arrangement or to a product whose ordinary MFN rate is itself 15%. A product with a 15% MFN rate does not fall to 12.5%; its new Section 301 increment is zero, while the 15% MFN rate remains.
How the 12.5% adjustment works
| MFN rate | New Section 301 | Combined rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| 5% | 7.5% | 12.5% |
| 10% | 2.5% | 12.5% |
| 15% | 0% | 15% |
This simplified table does not include separate Section 232 duties, pre-existing Section 301 duties, antidumping or countervailing duties, fees, or taxes.
Seven checks before you quote or ship
- Confirm the legal country of origin, not merely the shipping country.
- Identify the correct 10-digit HTSUS code.
- Check the normal MFN duty rate.
- Verify whether the new Section 301 action applies or an exclusion covers the entry.
- Screen for Section 232 and product-specific measures.
- Check earlier Section 301 measures, ADD/CVD, quotas, taxes, and fees.
- Confirm who bears the cost under DDP, DAP, or another Incoterm, then validate with the U.S. importer and customs broker.
Frequently asked questions
Is every Korean product charged 12.5%?
No. Product classification, origin, MFN rate, exclusions, and separate measures can change the result.
Do I add 12.5% to the existing MFN rate?
Not under the adjustment described above. For covered Korean goods with an MFN rate below 12.5%, the new Section 301 rate generally fills the gap to 12.5%.
Does shipping from Korea prove Korean origin?
No. U.S. Customs may examine production and substantial transformation.
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