The United States’ renewed emphasis on reciprocal tariff policy is sending ripples across its alliance network, and South Korea—a linchpin ally in both economic and security domains—is squarely in its path. The U.S. decision to impose a 25% tariff on South Korean exports, effective August 1, 2025, as part of a sweeping realignment of trade policy under Executive Order 14257, has escalated uncertainty within the ROK-U.S. alliance. Although framed as a domestic economic correction, this move risks reshaping the alliance into a more transactional relationship, raising questions about strategic reliability at a time of growing regional volatility.nalyses.
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