Seoul, Feb 21 (NationPress) The US Supreme Court's ruling to invalidate President Donald Trump's emergency "reciprocal" tariffs has injected new uncertainty into South Korea's trade prospects, experts noted on Saturday. However, major South Korean corporations are expected to avoid drastic alterations to their investment strategies in the United States.

The ruling questioned Trump's reliance on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to enforce reciprocal tariffs and other duties, raising concerns about the trade agreements forged by the Trump administration, which relied on these tariffs as a key negotiating tool.

In a rapid reaction to the court's decision, Trump enacted a new 10 percent global tariff on all nations under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

Yoon Sang-ha, the leader of the international macroeconomics team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, indicated that a brief phase of disruption is likely following these developments.

"Over the past year, businesses have made decisions based on the reciprocal tariff framework and the South Korea-U.S. agreement," Yoon explained. "If this legal foundation changes, firms will be confused about what standards to adhere to."

Moreover, even if the U.S. administration reinstates tariffs through other channels, the specifics regarding affected products and applicable rates remain ambiguous, according to Yoon, who highlighted that uncertainty could hinder investment and export decisions.

"As uncertainty increases, companies typically delay decision-making, which can adversely affect investment, exports, and overall economic activity," Yoon added.

Chung Ji-young, an emeritus professor of international trade at Jeonbuk National University, shared a similar sentiment.

"The primary obstacle is unpredictability," Chung stated, recognizing that policy volatility has emerged as a significant risk factor. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that Korean firms can adapt efficiently to such changing conditions.

Experts from leading South Korean trade associations echoed this perspective, emphasizing that tariff policies remain external elements beyond corporate control.

Kim Hyun-soo, head of the economic policy team at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that companies will need to make internal adjustments once Washington's policy direction is clarified.

"Tariffs represent an external factor. Companies must adapt their management strategies and costs in response to whatever decisions are made," Kim stated.

He urged for enhanced communication between Seoul and Washington to alleviate uncertainty and enable businesses to make prompt decisions.

Ryu Sung-won, head of the industrial innovation team at the Federation of Korean Industries, dismissed the possibility of a significant change in Korean firms’ operations in the U.S.

Ryu added that Seoul could utilize Korea's industrial strengths in upcoming trade negotiations.

The Trump administration had implemented reciprocal tariffs of 15 percent on South Korean products, reduced from 25 percent following a bilateral agreement in which Seoul committed to investing US$350 billion in the United States, among other commitments, in exchange for the tariff reduction.