India vs South Korea: Import Tariff Comparison 2026
Neither India 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 consumer electronics, India pays its MFN base rate plus a forced-labor Section 301 duty of 10%, while South Korea pays its MFN base rate plus a forced-labor Section 301 duty of 11%. That puts the total effective rate at 11.5% from India and 12.5% from South Korea. Section 122 lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026 and contributes nothing to either figure, so the 1% spread between these origins comes from MFN, Section 232 coverage and forced-labor coverage alone.
Tariff Rate Comparison
Consumer Electronics| Rate Type | IndiaSave 1.0pp vs highestbilateral | South Koreabilateral |
|---|---|---|
| MFN Base RateMost Favored Nation tariff | 1.50% | 1.50% |
| Section 232Steel & aluminum tariff | N/A | N/A |
| Section 301Unfair-trade action under 19 U.S.C. 2411 | N/A | N/A |
| Section 301 (forced labor)Forced-labor duty applied to covered economies | 10.00% | 11.00% |
| Bilateral DealNegotiated country rate, compared against the other special layers | N/A | N/A |
| Total Effective Rate | 11.50% | 12.50% |
Rate Comparison by Product Category
| Product | India | South Korea | Savings ($10K) |
|---|---|---|---|
| consumer electronics | 11.5% | 12.5% | $106 |
| pharmaceutical ingredients | 12.0% | 12.5% | $53 |
| chemicals industrial compounds | 13.5% | 12.5% | $106 |
| industrial machinery | 12.0% | 12.5% | $53 |
| textiles fabrics | 18.0% | 12.5% | $583 |
Trade Agreement Status
India 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 India 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
Source from India when importing consumer electronics and pharmaceutical ingredients, where its tariff rates are more competitive. Source from South Korea for chemicals industrial compounds and textiles fabrics, where it carries the tariff advantage. Beyond tariff rates, factor in lead times, minimum order quantities, quality standards, and freight costs — the total landed cost comparison may shift depending on shipment volume and logistics conditions.
Full Landed Cost — $10,000 Shipment
Consumer ElectronicsIndiaFull 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 consumer electronics, importing from India saves $106 in duties compared to South Korea — a 8% reduction in total import costs. India incurs $1,219 in duties on the $10,000 shipment, while South Korea incurs $1,325. This difference compounds across larger order volumes and is a key factor in supplier selection decisions for importers sourcing consumer electronics.
Frequently Asked Questions
The total effective tariff rate on consumer electronics is 11.5% from India and 12.5% 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.
India does not have a formal trade agreement with the United States. Section 122 lapsed to 0% on July 24, 2026, so imports from India now face either a forced-labor Section 301 duty (if India 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.
India is cheaper for pharmaceutical ingredients with a 12% total tariff rate, compared to 12.5% from South Korea. On a $10,000 shipment, this 0.5% rate difference saves $50 in duties when sourcing from India.
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 India — it lapsed on July 24, 2026 — but India 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 .