Import Duties from South Korea to United States
United States import duty rates for goods originating in South Korea. KORUS (US-Korea Free Trade Agreement) provides preferential tariff access.
FTA Status
Active ✓
Duty basis
FOB
Sales Tax (state-level)
0%
Tariff system
HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule)
KORUS (US-Korea Free Trade Agreement)
In force since 2012
0% duty on most industrial goods. Auto tariffs phased out (fully eliminated 2021).
South Korea → United States Trade Highlights
- →KORUS eliminated tariffs on 95%+ of bilateral trade in goods
- →Passenger car tariff fully eliminated (was 2.5%, phased out 2021)
- →Truck/pickup tariff (25%) has longer phase-out (2041)
- →Electronics, machinery, and chemicals enter duty-free
- →Korean cars pay 15% all-in under the Section 232 terms of the 2025 US–Korea deal; since 24 July 2026 the forced-labour Section 301 tariff tops most other goods up to 12.5% net of MFN
Key Products: South Korea → United States
United States MFN rates · FOB basis · click for full breakdown
| Product | HS Code | MFN Duty | FTA Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Cars | 8703 | 2.5% | CUSMA/KORUS: 0% | Details → |
| Automotive Parts & Components | 8708 | 2.5% | — | Details → |
| Tyres & Pneumatic Tyres | 4011 | 4% | — | Details → |
| Steel Flat Products | 7208–7211 | 0–3% + 50% | — | Details → |
| Cosmetics & Skincare | 3304 | 0–4.9% | — | Details → |
| Electronic Components | 8534 / 8542 | Free | — | Details → |
All United States Duty Rates
| Smartphones & Mobile Phones | 8517.12 | Free | Details → |
| Used & Second-Hand Cars | 8703 | 2.5% | Details → |
| Trucks & Commercial Vehicles | 8704 | 25% (light) / 4% (heavy) | Details → |
| Perfume & Fragrances | 3303.00 | 3.4% | Details → |
| Clothing & Apparel | 61 / 62 | 0–32% | Details → |
| Aluminium Profiles & Windows | 7610 | 3–5% | Details → |
| Laptops & Computers | 8471 | Free | Details → |
| Solar Panels & PV Modules | 8541.40 | 14.78–238.95% | Details → |
| Furniture | 9403 | 0% | Details → |
| Footwear & Shoes | 6402–6405 | 9–37.5% | Details → |
| Motorcycles & Scooters | 8711 | 2.4% | Details → |
| Food Supplements & Vitamins | 2106 / 3004 | 0–6.4% | Details → |
| Fabrics & Technical Textiles | 5208 / 5512 | 5–25% | Details → |
| Jewellery & Precious Metals | 7113 / 7114 | 5.5% | Details → |
Importing into United States: what you need
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects duty; rates are set in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) published by the USITC, with trade-remedy duties in Chapter 99.
Registration. An importer of record number (IRS EIN or CBP-assigned number), a customs bond for formal entries over $2,500 and, for ocean freight, an Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2) at least 24 hours before loading.
Low-value shipments. There is no de minimis any more. The $800 Section 321 exemption was suspended for all countries on 29 August 2025 and written into CBP regulations as an indefinite suspension on 24 June 2026; the statutory exemption ends on 1 July 2027 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Every parcel needs an entry and pays duty.
Documents customs will ask for
- Commercial invoice with HTS code, country of origin and value
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- CBP Form 7501 entry summary (filed by the broker)
- Agency forms for regulated goods (FDA prior notice, FCC, EPA, CPSC certificates)
Charges on top of duty
- Merchandise Processing Fee: 0.3464% of value, $34.58 minimum to $670.86 maximum from 1 October 2026 (FY2027), or a $2.77 flat fee on informal entries up to $2,500
- Harbor Maintenance Fee: 0.125% on ocean shipments
- Section 301 forced-labour tariffs since 24 July 2026: 10% or 12.5% on most origins, capped net of MFN for the EU, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Switzerland
- Section 301 China tariffs (Lists 1–4A, 7.5–100%) and Section 232 duties on steel, aluminium, copper, vehicles and parts
- State sales tax when the goods are sold, not at the border
Watch out. The MFN rate on the HTS line is rarely the whole bill. Check the Chapter 99 lines for your origin first — for Chinese goods the Section 301 layers often exceed the base duty.
How Import Duty Is Calculated
FOB value
Product transaction value at the port of export
Import duty (tariff rate)
MFN rate applies, or preferential rate under KORUS (US-Korea Free Trade Agreement) if rules of origin are met
Sales Tax (state-level) (0%)
Charged on FOB value + duty. Collected at customs clearance.
Use our Import Duty Calculator or Landed Cost Calculator for a full cost breakdown.
Calculate your exact cost
Enter your product, value, and shipping cost for a full landed cost estimate.
Landed Cost Calculator →South Korea → Other Markets
Other Origins → United States