South Korea responds to Trump tariff claim: I didn't steal the lollipop!

South Korea needs a tad more creativity in its diplomatic responses to Trump

In his first speech to Congress of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump turned very briefly to South Korea. Trump claimed that South Korea’s tariffs on U.S. goods are four times higher than those imposed by the United States. He framed this as an unfair trade imbalance, especially given America’s military and economic support for South Korea.

South Korean officials swiftly refuted the claim. Just hours after, they pointed out that under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), tariffs on U.S. imports into South Korea are effectively zero. Here was their first mistake.

South Korea’s foreign affairs epistemic community and those advising the acting president should be wiser. They should know better.

The truth, or as we can now say in our late capitalist world, their version of the truth, does not matter! I’ll say it again: Truth does not matter! Refuting the points made by President Trump i…