KORUS

Definition

KORUS is the free-trade agreement between the United States and South Korea, in force since March 2012 and modernized in 2018. Under KORUS, qualifying Korean-origin goods enter the US duty-free or at reduced rates that phase to zero by 2026 for most categories. To claim KORUS preferential treatment, an importer files a KORUS Certification of Origin with the entry. KORUS does not exempt Korean goods from Section 232 metals tariffs or Section 232 derivative actions; KORUS preferential treatment only displaces the MFN rate. Korean steel is still subject to Section 232 at 50%, and Korean copper falls under the April 2026 Section 232 expansion.