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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Korea’s laver exports are expected to gain further momentum as the United States has exempted seasoned seaweed (gim) from tariffs, amid strong demand for Korean seaweed products in the U.S. market.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Dec. 14, seasoned seaweed was listed as a tariff-free item in a fact sheet on reciprocal tariffs released by the White House last month.
The move effectively reduces the tariff on seasoned seaweed from 15% to 0%, making it the only seafood product to receive a tariff exemption in the U.S. By contrast, dried seaweed continues to face a 15% reciprocal tariff, in line with other seafood items.
A ministry official explained that the fact sheet includes a provision stating that additional tariff exemptions may be discussed for natural resources not produced in the United States, adding that seasoned seaweed was included among the duty-free items.
The ministry plans to engage in further talks with the U.S. to seek tariff exemptions for additional products, including dried seaweed and tuna fillets (deboned tuna meat).
Korea’s total laver exports worldwide reached USD 1.04 billion during the January–November period this year, up 13.3% from a year earlier. The ministry projects that annual laver exports will surpass USD 1.1 billion for the first time this year.
The United States remains Korea’s largest export market for laver, accounting for more than 20% of total exports. Despite the Trump administration’s imposition of reciprocal tariffs this year, Korea’s laver exports to the U.S. totaled USD 228 million (approximately KRW 340 billion) through November, up 15.9% year on year.
Exports to the U.S. in November alone reached USD 24.5 million, marking a 25.2% increase from the same month last year and outpacing the cumulative growth rate recorded for the January–November period.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
