Korean Business Leaders Fear Political Crisis Will Increase Trump Risk

If Trump wants to increase tariffs on South Korea I don’t think it really matters who the leader is:

Korea’s ongoing leadership crisis, triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to impose martial law, is feared to leave the country vulnerable to potential new tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration during upcoming trade and economic negotiations, industry officials said Sunday.

Yoon is suspended from his duties following the National Assembly’s vote on Saturday to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has stepped in as acting president.

Officials from the nation’s business community expressed concerns that Korea may have weaker negotiating power under the presidency of the interim head of state.

“Every nation engages in a tight tug-of-war with the United States to minimize any damages from the ultra-protectionist stance of Trump,” an official from a major manufacturing firm here said.

“But it becomes harder for Korea to do so on an equal footing due to the absence of the state leader.”

Korea Times

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