Trump Threatens to Double Tariffs on South Korea Over Alaska LNG Investment

President Donald Trump has threatened to double agreed tariff rates if South Korea does not invest in the Alaska liquefied natural gas project. This warning was made during a visit to Ohio, another battleground state, where Trump stated that foreign companies have about a year and a half to build a factory. If they fail to do so, he warned of 300% tariffs.

The prevailing view is that these comments reflect Trump's negotiating style, but some see them as an attempt to reverse Republican slippage against Democrats in key areas before the November midterms. The U.S. government has maintained a more positive tone on the agreement, focusing on the benefits of the deal and the fact that it was reached.

Bloomberg data shows that only 20.8% of Trump's trade retaliation threats have actually materialized, with tariffs imposed in 15 out of 72 instances. However, some argue that it is too early to relax, as Trump may take a harder line if he falls behind in the midterm campaign.