NASHVILLE, TN – The U.S. is preparing to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Japan and South Korea beginning August 1, a move that could threaten critical agricultural markets. President Trump announced the measure last week via social media. Japan and South Korea are among the top five destinations for U.S. ag exports, following Mexico, Canada, and China.
Unlike China, where U.S. agricultural exports have dropped sharply—down 55% year-to-date—Japan and South Korea posted strong growth. Japan’s imports are up 6% this year, and South Korea leads all major markets with nearly 16% growth. Combined, the two countries bought over $20 billion in U.S. ag goods in 2024, including beef, pork, corn, and soybeans.
New tariffs could hurt that momentum. Retaliatory actions by Japan or South Korea would likely reduce demand for U.S. products and disrupt current trade flows. With China already shifting to alternative suppliers, any similar move by these two allies could intensify market volatility for American producers.