2026年9月10日

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U.S. Issues $400 Billion “Manufacturing Cooperation Fund” Ultimatum, South Korea Caught in a Dilemma Lead

With the U.S. threatening to levy a 25% tariff on Korean-made cars as of August 1, Seoul–Washington trade talks have reached a critical juncture. Beyond demands to open its agricultural and livestock markets, the U.S. has proposed establishing a “Manufacturing Cooperation Fund” of roughly $400 billion—far beyond South Korea’s capacity. This high‐pressure strategy leaves the Moon administration squeezed between domestic backlash and American deadlines.

2025年7月17日 來源: 鳳凰網

1. Negotiation Core: Agricultural Market Access & the Massive Fund

  • Attack on Non-tariff Barriers in Agri-Products
    • The U.S. wants Korea to lift limits on beef imports over 30 months of age, relax stringent fruit‐quarantine rules, and drastically cut rice tariffs (currently as high as 513%).
    • Domestic farmers warn such concessions could repeat past “mad cow” controversies and damage consumer confidence in meat safety.
  • The $400 Billion “Manufacturing Cooperation Fund”
    • Modeled after the proposed Japan–U.S. sovereign wealth initiative, Washington is pushing Seoul to spearhead a roughly $400 billion investment vehicle.
    • The fund would finance Korean companies building or expanding factories in the U.S. and acquiring American businesses—an amount exceeding 80% of Korea’s annual budget, raising urgent questions about funding sources and governance.

2. South Korean Government’s Response & Internal Divide

  • Cautious Official Statements
    • The Ministries of Trade and Finance have neither confirmed fund details nor stated a unified position, urging the media to “report responsibly” on matters of national interest.
  • Divergent Views at Home
    • Proponents argue that supporting Korean investments in the U.S. could secure tariff concessions and invigorate growth amid fierce global competition.
    • Critics, led by agricultural groups, fear accelerated hollowing-out of Korea’s domestic industries and renewed political backlash over food safety.

3. Public Sentiment & What Comes Next

  • Grassroots Protests
    • The Central Association of Young Farmers staged a rally in front of the Blue House on July 16, vehemently opposing further agricultural market openings.
  • High-Level “2+2” Talks Loom
    • Newly appointed ministers of Economy and Trade are expected to resume the “2+2” trade dialogue with U.S. counterparts soon.
    • With the August 1 deadline approaching, negotiations will hinge on balancing farm concessions with the fund’s scale—and failure could provoke stiff U.S. tariffs.


Washington’s ultimatum to create a colossal “Manufacturing Cooperation Fund,” coupled with demands to dismantle Korea’s agri-product safeguards, has put Seoul between a rock and a hard place. Any concession risks domestic upheaval; any stalemate risks punitive tariffs. The outcome will reshape not only Korea–U.S. trade ties but also the broader dynamics of global supply chains.

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