The Presidential Office said it will review countermeasures in line with national interests after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs illegal on Tuesday (local time).
Senior officials including Kim Yong-beom, Presidential Chief Policy Secretary, and Wi Sung-lac, National Security Advisor, are closely monitoring the ruling's potential impact on Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations.
"The government will comprehensively review the Supreme Court ruling and the U.S. government's position, and examine response measures in a direction that best serves national interests," the Presidential Office said Wednesday. Officials added they would share the situation with relevant ministries and continue interagency discussions.
The Trump administration imposed reciprocal tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but the Supreme Court ruling has increased the likelihood that the administration will seek alternative legal mechanisms.
Some observers have raised the possibility of renegotiating the Korea-U.S. trade deal, though the prevailing view is that actual changes will be limited given continued U.S. pressure.
The ruling does not apply to sector-specific tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum—another pillar of Trump's tariff policy. This means each country will respond differently, making calculations more complex.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had signaled even before the ruling their intent to continue collecting tariffs through alternative means. Seoul is closely watching what other legal tools the administration might deploy beyond IEEPA.