South Korea's Hyundai Motor warns US tariff pressure may intensify despite Supreme Court ruling

Core Viewpoint - Hyundai Motor warns that tariff pressure from the U.S. may intensify despite a recent Supreme Court ruling, urging South Korea to pass a $350 billion U.S. investment package to mitigate potential impacts [1][1]. Group 1: Tariff Impact - Hyundai and Kia have already incurred a combined financial hit of approximately $4.98 billion (7.2 trillion won) from U.S. tariffs last year [1][1]. - The company president cautioned that if tariffs are raised back to 25%, the financial impact could increase significantly this year [1][1]. - The Trump administration has threatened to escalate tariffs on sectors including autos, which could weaken the competitiveness of Korean companies [1][1]. Group 2: Legislative Urgency - Hyundai is urging the South Korean government to swiftly pass legislation related to the $350 billion U.S. investment package, which is part of a trade deal aimed at reducing tariffs from 25% to 15% [1][1]. - The South Korean government has committed to adhering to the trade deal reached last year, despite the ongoing tariff threats from the U.S. [1][1]. Group 3: Industry Challenges - The auto industry is facing a "major crisis" due to the existing U.S. tariffs, with ongoing transitions to electric vehicles and increased competition in autonomous driving [1][1]. - There are concerns that sector-specific tariffs, particularly in steel and autos, are likely to remain in place, further complicating the industry's recovery [1][1].