South Korean civic leaders are pushing back on US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. They worry Trump’s demands will include increases in the cost of hosting US troops in Korea and open the door to more, what many call, blatant extortion.

The US should immediately stop its unfair trade pressure and defense cost sharing negotiations.

We should make it clear that there is no reason to negotiate anymore.

Now is the time to confront Trump’s America.

Lee Yeon-Hee, Sovereignty Action Beyond Peace

Civic leaders also say South Korea’s current administration has no mandate, as it’s made up of members of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol’s disgraced cabinet.

On April 9, US President Donald Trump added a 25% reciprocal tariff on South Korean exports to the United States, only to backtrack hours later with a 90-day pause on that additional tariff. That measure has brought South Korean politics into the equation as a presidential election here on June 3 is almost certain to see a change in government in Seoul.

Labor leaders say the tariffs represent a lose-lose proposition, killing exports and costing jobs in Korea while raising prices in the US.

In the end, if the 25% tariff is actually applied after a few months of a grace period, it will have a very negative economic impact, not only for South Korea, but also for the American people, considering that prices will eventually go up in all industries.

Ham Jae-Kyu, Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, Chairman

Manufacturing sector experts have been trying to convince the US president and his advisors that the decades of economic globalization and supply chain linkages cannot be easily unwound.

It seems like the US is trying to go back to an era of isolationism, and if this trend increases significantly, it could be dangerous, not only for the US economy, but also for the global economy.

Yu Ji-Yun, International Trade Agent

Trump’s pause and tariff implementation amid frenzied negotiations has done little to calm jittery market declines this week with workers around the world increasingly worried about their jobs.