Germany vs South Korea: Import Tariff Comparison 2026
Neither Germany nor South Korea carries a negotiated bilateral tariff rate that the United States charges today. The country-specific rates reported through 2025 as bilateral deals were lines inside the reciprocal tariff imposed by Executive Order 14257, and Executive Order 14389 terminated that tariff on February 20, 2026; they are no longer collected. On auto parts components, Germany pays its MFN base rate plus a Section 232 duty of 25%, while South Korea pays its MFN base rate plus a Section 232 duty of 25%. That puts the total effective rate at 28% from Germany and 28% from South Korea. Section 122 lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026 and contributes nothing to either figure, and on this product category the two origins land at the same total — so the choice between them turns on freight, lead time and supplier fit rather than on tariffs.
Tariff Rate Comparison
Auto Parts & Components| Rate Type | GermanyEU bilateral | South Koreabilateral |
|---|---|---|
| MFN Base RateMost Favored Nation tariff | 3.00% | 3.00% |
| Section 232Steel & aluminum tariff | 25.00% | 25.00% |
| Section 301Unfair-trade action under 19 U.S.C. 2411 | N/A | N/A |
| Bilateral DealNegotiated country rate, compared against the other special layers | N/A | N/A |
| Total Effective Rate | 28.00% | 28.00% |
Rate Comparison by Product Category
| Product | Germany | South Korea | Savings ($10K) |
|---|---|---|---|
| auto parts components | 28.0% | 28.0% | $0 |
| consumer electronics | 10.0% | 12.5% | $265 |
| industrial machinery | 10.0% | 12.5% | $265 |
| chemicals industrial compounds | 10.0% | 12.5% | $265 |
| steel iron products | 53.0% | 53.0% | $0 |
Trade Agreement Status
Germany has no negotiated bilateral rate charged on its goods — any country-specific reciprocal rate it once carried was terminated on February 20, 2026 — and Section 122 lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026, but Germany is on the forced-labor Section 301 covered list at the 10% tier, with Section 232 goods carved out and the charge on any given product depending on its MFN rate. South Korea has no negotiated bilateral rate charged on its goods — any country-specific reciprocal rate it once carried was terminated on February 20, 2026 — and Section 122 lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026, but South Korea is on the forced-labor Section 301 covered list at the 12.5% tier, with Section 232 goods carved out and the charge on any given product depending on its MFN rate. For products under Section 232 national security tariffs, S232 rates govern: a bilateral deal rate does not displace them, and Section 122 never applied to S232-covered goods while it was in force, before it lapsed to zero on July 24, 2026. China-origin goods additionally face Section 301 tariffs that stack on top of all other duties, making trade agreement status a defining factor in the total tariff burden.
When to Source from Each Country
Germany offers lower tariff rates across all focus product categories in this comparison, making it the more cost-effective sourcing origin from a tariff perspective. Source from South Korea when its supplier relationships, product specialization, or geographic advantages outweigh the tariff cost differential. Always model total landed cost — including freight, insurance, MPF, and HMF fees — before finalizing sourcing decisions.
Full Landed Cost — $10,000 Shipment
Auto Parts & ComponentsGermanyFull Landed Cost Breakdown
Based on a $10,000 ocean shipment (FOB value)
South KoreaFull Landed Cost Breakdown
Based on a $10,000 ocean shipment (FOB value)
Savings Analysis
On a $10,000 shipment of auto parts components, importing from Germany saves $0 in duties compared to South Korea — a 0% reduction in total import costs. Germany incurs $2,968 in duties on the $10,000 shipment, while South Korea incurs $2,968. This difference compounds across larger order volumes and is a key factor in supplier selection decisions for importers sourcing auto parts components.
Frequently Asked Questions
The total effective tariff rate on auto parts components is 28% from Germany and 28% from South Korea under current 2026 tariff policy. These rates include the MFN base rate, any persisting bilateral deal rate, Section 232 duties for covered products, Section 301 tariffs for Chinese goods, and the forced-labor Section 301 duty that backfills the lapsed Section 122 surcharge for roughly 60 covered economies (Section 122 itself lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026 and no longer applies). Use the CalcMyTariff.com calculator above to enter your specific invoice value and shipping details for a precise landed cost breakdown.
Germany does not have a formal trade agreement with the United States. Section 122 lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026, so imports from Germany now face either a forced-labor Section 301 duty (if Germany is on the roughly 60-economy covered list) or the base MFN rate alone with no special-tariff layer.
South Korea does not have a bilateral trade agreement with the US. Section 122 lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026, so imports from South Korea now face either a forced-labor Section 301 duty (if South Korea is on the roughly 60-economy covered list) or the base MFN rate alone with no special-tariff layer.
Germany is cheaper for consumer electronics with a 10% total tariff rate, compared to 12.5% from South Korea. On a $10,000 shipment, this 2.5% rate difference saves $250 in duties when sourcing from Germany.
Section 122, enacted in February 2026 for up to 150 days, imposed a global surcharge on most US imports until it lapsed on July 24, 2026. Section 122 no longer applies to Germany — it lapsed on July 24, 2026 — but Germany is on the forced-labor Section 301 covered list at the 10% tier, which backfilled the lapsed surcharge. Section 122 no longer applies to South Korea — it lapsed on July 24, 2026 — but South Korea is on the forced-labor Section 301 covered list at the 12.5% tier, which backfilled the lapsed surcharge. Since the lapse, a forced-labor Section 301 duty (10%/12.5% on ~60 economies) has backfilled the surcharge for most importers — model the realized post-July-24 structure, forced-labor duty included, when planning shipments.
Tariff rates from Tax Foundation, USITC, and Penn Wharton Budget Model; retaliatory and industry data from the ITA Foreign Retaliations Database and U.S. Census Bureau (NAICS). Last verified .