South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Monday said the United States has warned it could restore reciprocal tariffs to 25 per cent if Seoul fails to make tangible progress on removing non-tariff barriers.

Briefing lawmakers at the National Assembly, Cho said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer conveyed the message during their meeting in Washington last week. The warning comes amid uncertainty over a bilateral trade deal after President Donald Trump signalled a possible tariff hike from the current 15 per cent, citing delays in South Korea’s legislative approval.

Cho said Washington’s position is that tariffs could be raised to curb America’s trade deficit with South Korea if negotiations stall. Seoul had earlier committed to investing US$350 billion in the United States in return for a reduced 15 per cent duty, but legislation to formalise the deal has been pending in parliament since November.

Non-tariff barriers under dispute include South Korean regulations on digital platforms such as Google, quarantine rules on agricultural imports, and certification requirements in autos, pharmaceuticals and other sectors. The US has argued that some of these rules discriminate against American firms and has pressed Seoul to relax them.

According to Cho, Greer expressed frustration over slow progress on both the investment pledge and discussions on regulatory issues, saying Washington cannot spend excessive time on the South Korean market while dealing with similar concerns elsewhere.

Greer reportedly told Cho that the US would pursue tariff measures “without emotions attached” if there is no movement from Seoul, urging a faster resolution. Cho assured lawmakers that the South Korean Cabinet is treating the issue seriously and will act swiftly.

Separately, Cho confirmed that a US interagency delegation will visit South Korea later this month to negotiate expanded rights for civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing. He said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had confirmed the visit during their recent talks.