Over 10,019 consultations in less than a year; All-out effort to resolve export difficulties and propose alternatives
Rising protectionism increases non-tariff barriers such as technology and environmental regulations in addition to tariffs
Support expands to responding to trade barriers, finding alternative markets, and reviewing production base relocation
Collaboration with 11 related agencies to publish 'Trade Barrier Reports' and hold regional briefings

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (Minister Kim Jung-kwan) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA; President Kang Kyung-sung) announced that the "Tariff Response 119" (☎1600-7119), operated as a pan-governmental corporate support center to respond to U.S. tariffs, exceeded 10,019 consultations as of January. This milestone was reached in less than a year since the center's launch on February 18 last year, reflecting the continuous difficulties faced by Korean companies.

"Tariff Response 119" connects domestic export experts with local U.S. tariff and customs specialists to provide detailed tariff information, support the use of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) e-Ruling service (advance ruling on tariffs), and determine tariff and origin application by item. The service also extends to consulting on difficulties, discovering alternative markets, and reviewing the relocation of production bases. In particular, the support for the CBP e-Ruling service has been well-received as practically helpful for companies aiming to establish strategies with clearer tariff and origin determinations. The center has achieved significant results, such as securing tariff exemptions for specific items through negotiations between Korean and U.S. authorities based on filed complaints, lowering tariffs by changing item classifications (HS Codes), and finding ways to apply FTAs for tariff exemptions.

By category, consultations were △led by tariff information (70 percent), △followed by support projects and certification/standards (20 percent), △discovery of buyers in alternative markets (6 percent), and △investment in local production (4 percent). Deep-dive free consultations, including 1:1 video meetings with local U.S. experts and consulting with customs brokers, recorded 741 cases. Notably, inquiries from customs brokers and firms seeking to grasp tariff information based on local U.S. conditions accounted for approximately 1,300 cases, or 13 percent of the total. To enhance consultation effectiveness, KOTRA also signed MOUs with the Korea Customs Service and the Korea Institute of Origin Information.

Meanwhile, MOTIR and KOTRA announced that starting February 14, "Tariff Response 119" will be expanded and reorganized into "Trade Barrier 119" to bolster the pan-governmental support system. This measure addresses the growing demand from companies and the rise of non-tariff barriers—such as customs clearance (strict origin application), certification, various technical and environmental regulations, and trade remedy measures—amid spreading protectionism. Inquiries regarding U.S. customs' strengthened origin verification to prevent circumvention exports and tariff refund issues related to the U.S. Supreme Court's IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) rulings are also increasing.

"Follow-up measures are needed in response to U.S. tariff policies, and non-tariff barriers in major countries are also rising due to the spread of protectionism," said Kang Kyung-sung, President of KOTRA. "We will collaborate with domestic and foreign specialized agencies to tighten the corporate support network. Beyond providing information, we will devote our full efforts to acting as a watchdog that provides practical help to companies, including finding alternative trading partners and reviewing production base relocation."



출처：KOTRA (2026.02.09.)