U.S.-Korean Trade Pact is a Winner For Both Nations, Obama Says
President Barack Obama is touting a free-trade agreement between the United States and South Korea that includes new provisions for automobile imports.
Friday's agreement has the United States ending its 2.5 percent tariff on Korean cars in five years, instead of immediately or after three years as was previously agreed. In return, South Korea will cut its 8 percent tariff on U.S. cars to 4 percent immediately, instead of dropping the tariff altogether, according to a White House fact sheet.
In what is good news for American automakers, U.S. tariffs on Korean trucks will remain at 25 percent for eight years instead of dropping off immediately. Additionally, each year Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group would be able to send to South Korea 25,000 cars that meet U.S. safety standards. These vehicles would be exempt from in-country standards, reported Automotive News.
Obama said the agreement is a “win-win for both our countries.” The president said the accord will support a level playing field, boost U.S. exports by as much as $11 billion and support at least 70,000 U.S. jobs.
The two countries signed a trade pact in 2007, but the deal was never ratified because of concerns over the U.S. auto and beef industries. Restarting the stalled agreement would create the largest U.S. deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico in 1994, Bloomberg reports. The two countries have more than $68 billion moving between each other.
Last month, Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak couldn't reach a deal during a Seoul summit. Last week, representatives from both countries met in Columbia, Md., to work toward an agreement.
Domestic automakers control around 80 percent of the South Korean market, with Japan taking a sizable chunk of the import market. U.S. market share there has dipped to just 10 percent, industry data suggest.
The U.S. Congress and the South Korean Parliament will need to approve the free-trade pact before it can go into effect. There is no word whether changes will be made to U.S. beef provisions.
More Industry

World EV Adoption Set to Grow
A new report says the segment, despite recent setbacks in some regions, is poised for acceleration as many countries look to reduce pollution.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Wholesale automotive auction business stayed steady last week as bidders encountered lower prices, analysts observed.
Read More →
Pricing Transparency Drives Purchase Consideration
An annual study by JD Power found that clear pricing matters to consumers on automaker websites, so much so that it increases their purchase consideration.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Used-vehicle market depreciation was the prevailing story in the wholesale market last week.
Read More →
Smaller Is Looking Better
A growing number of Americans in the market for a new vehicle are opting for more affordable options, not waiting for market stability to bite the bullet.
Read More →
U.S. EV Market Slowly Stabilizes
U.S. electric-vehicle interest is slowly stabilizing since a major dip in sales after last year's end of the federal EV tax credit, and hybrids remain the leading electrified power train.
Read More →
Global EV Market Entering New Phase
Automakers are making investments to lower battery costs and optimize production to meet changing consumer needs.
Read More →
Black Book Weekly Market Update
The holiday weekend, not surprisingly, put a drag on wholesale automotive activity last week, analysts observed.
Read More →
Auto Affordability in Context
Cox Automotive points out the complex circumstances that have led to eye-popping vehicle prices.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Automotive auction inventory increased last week, giving choosy bidders even more leeway.
Read More →