South Korea finds 'Made in Korea' breaches aiming to slip U.S. tariffs

South Korea has uncovered a surge in foreign product disguises as Korean exports to avoid U.S. tariffs, with Chinese goods worth 29.5 billion won identified in a recent customs check—nearly all destined for the U.S., up from 62% in the entire year of 2024. Specific violations include cathode materials for batteries and surveillance cameras reassembled locally to bypass U.S. trade restrictions. This latest probe follows President Trump's protectionist tariffs, which have spurred efforts by neighboring countries like China to exploit South Korea's free-trade agreements with the U.S.