South Korean exports face rising import regulations amid global protectionism

South Korean exports are facing increasing trade barriers as global protectionism rises. According to a report by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), there were 241 active import regulatory measures against South Korean products as of the end of June this year. This represents an increase of 11 cases compared to the second half of last year.

While 14 existing regulations ended during the first half of the year, 25 new investigations were launched, driving the total count upward. India led new investigations with 6 cases, followed by Madagascar with 4, and Japan, the United States, the Eurasian Economic Union, and South Africa with 2 each.

By total volume, the United States maintains the highest number of regulatory measures at 54, followed by India (28), Turkey (27), Madagascar (14), Canada (14), and China (13). The most common type of measure is anti-dumping, accounting for 166 cases, followed by safeguards (53), countervailing duties (13), and circumvention (9).

In terms of product categories, steel and metals are the most heavily impacted, accounting for 46.9% of all cases (113). Chemicals (15.4%) and plastics/rubber (14.5%) also face significant scrutiny. KOTRA attributes this trend to the expansion of protectionism, noting that the potential for tariff measures under a second Trump administration is prompting other nations to strengthen their own trade remedy tools.