Tariffs tracker
Every Tariffs development in Korean, Chinese and Japanese industry that East Asia Brief has logged — with dates, the companies exposed, and a link to the primary document where one exists.
| Date | Development | Where | Companies exposed | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean battery makers secure non-FEOC LFP supply contracts LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI are locking in North American materials contracts before federal rules end transition relief… | Korea | LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, POSCO Future M, Nvidia | high | federalregister.gov | |
| EP Manufacturing, Hebei Shichang form RM100m auto parts JV The 200,000-unit Selangor facility will supply fuel tanks for Proton's new modular vehicle architecture starting in March 2027… | Global | EP Manufacturing Bhd, Hebei Shichang Auto Parts Co Ltd, Proton Holdings Bhd, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group | medium | klsescreener.com | |
| USTR and MOFCOM set $60B tariff cuts on non-sensitive items The reciprocal pact restores most-favored-nation duties across 90% of targeted lines, dropping surcharges on Chinese toys and… | Global | Mattel, Hasbro, Haier Smart Home, Tyson Foods | high | ustr.gov | |
| Commerce locks in Korean steel duties as mills press quota review Countervailing rates of up to 3.68% land on Seoul producers as U.S. | Korea | POSCO, Hyundai Steel Company, American Iron and Steel Institute, Steel Manufacturers Association | high | federalregister.gov | |
| CBP ends sub-$800 duty exemptions as Chinese air cargo falls A proposed customs bond mandate follows the termination of tariff-free entry for shipments valued under $800, forcing platforms… | China | PDD Holdings, Shein | high | whitehouse.gov | |
| China caps hybrid car exports to EU to ease rare earth flows A bilateral pact struck Oct. 9 slashes projected vehicle shipments by over 50% across four years while speeding green-channel… | Global | BYD, SAIC Motor, Volkswagen, Stellantis | medium | tvpworld.com | |
| Chinese tiremakers invest 40 billion yuan to build in Egypt Securities filings show six manufacturers are shifting assembly lines and chemical feedstock offshore to bypass Western… | China | Sailun Tire, Linglong Tire, Aeolus Tyre, Lianke Technology | high | big5.sse.com.cn | |
| US blocks Chinese electric cars from entering via Canada Washington reinforces rules of origin and connected-vehicle bans to prevent circumvention of auto tariffs through Ottawa's quota. | Global | BYD, Geely Automobile, Chery Automobile | high | slotkin.senate.gov | |
| China drops tariffs on African goods to secure mineral supply lines The State Council Tariff Commission expanded duty-free access across 53 partner nations as first-half bilateral trade climbed… | China | Transnet SOC Ltd | high | is.mofcom.gov.cn | |
| BYD opens second-generation Seagull orders for 2026 rollout The redesigned hatchback lengthens the chassis by 425 mm, installs FinDreams battery packs up to 39.2 kWh and adds optional LiDAR… | China | BYD, Geely Automobile, FinDreams Battery | medium | 163.com | |
| US and China advance $30 billion tariff cuts and AI security channel Both governments will lower duties on 90% of targeted goods to MFN rates while establishing an emergency hotline to manage… | Global | — | high | fmprc.gov.cn | |
| CATL Surpasses Korean Battery Trio in Markets Outside China The Chinese cell giant captured 33.7% of non-China electric vehicle battery usage through August 2026 as South Korean competitors… | Global | Contemporary Amperex Technology, LG Energy Solution, SK On, Samsung SDI | medium | sneresearch.com | |
| EU puts China rare earth curbs on trade docket to cut deficit Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič demanded Beijing ease critical mineral export controls as Europe confronts a trade deficit… | Global | Stellantis, Siemens Energy, Neo Performance Materials | high | ec.europa.eu | |
| UK weighs tariffs on Chinese electric cars to protect EU supply ties Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds evaluates import duties of up to 45% as Brussels threatens to exclude British carmakers from… | Global | BYD, Geely Automobile Holdings, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW | medium | gov.uk | |
| TSMC raises foundry prices for fabless clients by up to 10% in 2027 Mature process nodes face 3% to 10% increases in January while chip designers prepare price hikes of up to double digits to… | Global | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Nvidia, Apple, Samsung Electronics | high | sec.gov | |
| LG Energy Solution clarifies $4.3B Tesla energy storage deal The 5.94 trillion won pact signed in 2025 provides Michigan-made lithium iron phosphate cells for Tesla Megapack 3 units rather… | Korea | LG Energy Solution, Tesla, Contemporary Amperex Technology, General Motors | medium | mk.co.kr | |
| Hyundai Steel and POSCO build US plant to bypass Section 232 The Korea Iron & Steel Association endorsed bilateral energy projects on Oct. | Korea | Hyundai Steel, POSCO, Hyundai Motor, Kia | medium | steeldaily.co.kr | |
| China widens offshore wind turbine cost lead over Europe Domestic equipment prices near $195 per kilowatt and 48.4 gigawatts of operating capacity leave Western developers facing higher… | Global | Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology, Envision Energy, Mingyang Smart Energy Group, Vestas Wind Systems | medium | greentechlead.com | |
| U.S.-China Board of Trade sets tariff cuts on corn and beef as raw soybeans stay excluded The U.S.-China Board of Trade released a 30-for-30 framework on Sept. | Global | Archer-Daniels-Midland, Bunge Global, Tyson Foods, JBS USA | high | whitehouse.gov | |
| US Senator Daines urges China talks to protect rare earths The appeal follows a 21% drop in August magnet imports from China, with bilateral working groups seeking to avert shortages… | China | MP Materials, USA Rare Earth | high | daines.senate.gov | |
| Trump Threatens Korea With Tariffs Over $54B Alaska LNG Deal Washington demands full funding for the Arctic energy corridor while Seoul insists a bilateral agreement covers only preliminary… | Korea | Glenfarne Group, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, Korea Gas Corporation | medium | chosun.com | |
| China waives African tariffs to lock in critical minerals Beijing reaffirmed duty-free access across 53 African nations on Oct. | China | Transnet, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine Resource Group, Contemporary Amperex Technology | high | mofcom.gov.cn | |
| BYD Widens BEV Lead Over Tesla to Record 275,946 Cars in Q3 Chinese automaker delivered 762,478 pure electric vehicles in the third quarter, outstripping Tesla by 56.7% as vertical battery… | Global | Tesla, BYD Company, Contemporary Amperex Technology, LG Energy Solution | high | ir.tesla.com | |
| USTR lowers China consumer tariffs, squeezing Southeast Asian hubs A bilateral agreement to restore single-digit duties on $30 billion of Chinese exports reverses a tariff advantage Southeast… | Global | — | high | ustr.gov | |
| USTR puts no timeline on $60B US-China tariff cuts as supply chains wait Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says domestic legal reviews must precede duty relief on 77 product lines, leaving Asian… | Global | Midea Group, Haier Smart Home | high | ustr.gov | |
| Japan leads India FDI with $5.7 billion as factories expand Ministry data shows Tokyo supplied 28.8% of New Delhi's $19.81 billion first-quarter equity inflows as automakers and component… | Japan | Suzuki Motor, TDK, Murata Manufacturing | medium | sundayguardianlive.com | |
| Korea Urges USTR to Strictly Honor 15% Bilateral Tariff Cap Trade Minister Park Jung-sung pressed Washington to prevent new trade measures from breaching the agreed duty limit as Korean… | Korea | Hyundai Motor, Kia, Posco Holdings, Hyundai Steel | high | kaaanews.or.kr | |
| CATL widens global EV battery lead to 39.4% as Korean share slips Seven Chinese producers took 73.3% of global volume through August, while North American delivery drops dragged LG Energy… | Global | Contemporary Amperex Technology, LG Energy Solution, SK On, BYD | medium | sneresearch.com | |
| PIIE ties $99.8 billion US-China trade gap to tariff evasion Bilateral customs gaps reached 63% of American imports through July, pointing to transshipment through Vietnam as US tariff rates… | Global | — | medium | piie.com | |
| CATL signs 1.64 GWh battery storage deal for Mexican grid The contract equips the La Alegría solar project with Chinese LFP containers, expanding site storage capacity more than fivefold… | China | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Comisión Federal de Electricidad | medium | ess-news.com | |
| TikTok hires Akin Gump to steer US trade and export controls A disclosure filed Sept. 25 shows the video platform paid $110,000 to navigate algorithm and customs restrictions, dropping… | China | TikTok Inc., ByteDance Ltd., Ballard Partners LLC, Crossroads Strategies LLC | medium | legis1.com | |
| China Imposes 55% Tariff on Brazil Beef as Imports Hit Quota The commerce ministry will collect a combined 67% duty starting Oct. | China | Minerva SA, JBS SA | high | mofcom.gov.cn | |
| Fanuc and Yaskawa Expand US Robot Plants to Meet AI Factory Push The Japanese automation leaders are committing over $270 million to new Michigan and Wisconsin campuses as North American… | Japan | Fanuc Corporation, Yaskawa Electric Corporation | medium | fanuc.co.jp | |
| German industry stockpiles critical minerals for China trade talks Industrial buyers expand rare earth and gallium reserves as Brussels prepares for October negotiations in Beijing, while US… | Global | Tradium, BMW | medium | harici.com.tr | |
| TSMC weighs second US chip hub in Texas as orders expand Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is evaluating up to six wafer fabs in Dallas to serve American customers that generated… | Global | TSMC, Nvidia, Apple | high | sec.gov | |
| POSCO Future M signs $776M LFP cathode supply deal with SK On The three-year agreement covers battery cells produced at SK On's Georgia plant for North American energy storage systems,… | Korea | POSCO Future M, SK On, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI | high | dart.fss.or.kr | |
| China MOFCOM Excludes Soybeans From $30B US Tariff Relief The exemption lowers duties to baseline rates on over 90% of 1,619 American products, leaving raw oilseed imports under an extra… | China | Sinograin, COFCO, Archer-Daniels-Midland, Bunge | high | mofcom.gov.cn | |
| SK On signs 18 GWh US battery storage pact with NeoVolta The five-year framework converts unallocated EV pouch cell lines in Georgia to lithium iron phosphate stationary storage for… | Korea | SK On, NeoVolta, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI | high | sec.gov | |
| Malaysia overtakes China in US drone market as tariffs bite A report by Rare Earth Exchanges shows Malaysian facilities shipped 348,400 drones to America, capturing 84% of micro-UAS imports… | Global | Anzu Robotics, SZ DJI Technology, Lynas Rare Earths, JS Link | medium | rareearthexchanges.com | |
| Korean power gear makers book grid orders on US fab growth Surging battery storage deployments and grid bottlenecks across North America lift combined order backlogs at South Korea's three… | Korea | HD Hyundai Electric, Hyosung Heavy Industries, LS ELECTRIC, LG Energy Solution | high | kotra.or.kr | |
| Commerce exempts South Korean biopharma from import tariffs on Sept. 29 New BIS rules grant zero-tariff entry for antibody-drug conjugates and cell therapies from 19 allied jurisdictions, shielding… | Korea | Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, GC Biopharma | high | govinfo.gov | |
| White House keeps chip export controls after Xi-Trump summit Bilateral summit readouts carve out $30 billion in consumer goods for tariff relief, but U.S. | Global | Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, ASML | high | whitehouse.gov | |
| Tesla buys China actuator parts for US Optimus robot factory Factory audits across Zhejiang province cover initial orders for 5,000 units, anchoring mechanical joint production in China… | China | Tesla, Ningbo Tuopu Group, Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls, Ningbo Joyson Electronic | high | sec.gov | |
| China Agrees to Import 10 Million Tons of US Coal Annually The White House announced the two-year energy purchase alongside tariff relief on $30 billion of goods, but Beijing omitted the… | China | Peabody Energy, Warrior Met Coal, China Baowu Steel Group, China Energy Investment Corp | high | whitehouse.gov | |
| BYD Commits Over $1B to Brazil EV Manufacturing The Chinese automaker's Sept. 25 pledge builds on a $1.1 billion first-phase plant already targeting 150,000 vehicles a year by… | China | BYD | medium | autonews.gasgoo.com | |
| SK hynix weighs Intel alliance for U.S. memory production Preliminary talks explore front-end wafer fabrication at Intel's Ohio site alongside SK hynix's $4 billion Indiana packaging… | Korea | SK hynix, Intel, TSMC | medium | mk.co.kr | |
| CATL lists 587Ah storage cells online to reset grid pricing at $65/kWh The battery maker posted a wholesale spot price of 0.415 yuan per watt-hour on CATL Mall, widening direct access for mid-tier… | China | Contemporary Amperex Technology, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, EVE Energy | medium | news.chemnet.com | |
| LG Energy Solution wins NVIDIA DSX Ready status for AI power backup The South Korean battery maker joins Tesla and Hitachi Energy in the chip designer's validated equipment list, offering… | Korea | LG Energy Solution, NVIDIA, Tesla, Hitachi Energy | medium | news.lgensol.com | |
| Southeast Asia beats India in China Plus One race, data show Higher capital efficiency in Vietnam and Malaysia outmatches India's cheaper wages as Indian exports fell to 22.3% of output in… | Global | — | medium | business-standard.com | |
| CATL develops tall pickup batteries to bypass US tariffs Tests conducted by American automakers show the Chinese supplier is targeting commercial trucks through technology licensing to… | China | Contemporary Amperex Technology, Ford Motor, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI | medium | ft.com | |
| Trump signs sanctions act authorizing 100% tariffs on oil buyers The measure targets goods from the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, putting Indian and Chinese supply… | Global | Reliance Industries, Indian Oil Corporation, Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corporation | high | whitehouse.gov | |
| China and US Open Talks to Cut LNG Tariffs Ahead of Summit Delegations led by Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent review duties on American gas cargoes under a… | Global | Venture Global, China Gas Holdings, JERA, Korea Gas Corporation | high | mofcom.gov.cn | |
| Chinese EVs capture 35% Korea market share under 8% tariff Automakers urged lawmakers at a National Assembly forum to enact domestic production tax credits after shipments from Shanghai… | Korea | Tesla, BYD, Hyundai Motor, LG Energy Solution | high | kamos.or.kr | |
| SK hynix subsidiary Solidigm weighs NAND fab in New York The South Korean memory producer said Sept. 18 that no terms are settled, as Washington pressures foreign chipmakers to onshore… | Korea | SK hynix, Solidigm, Intel, Micron Technology | high | kind.krx.co.kr | |
| US and Japan weigh $19 billion GlobalFoundries fab under tariff pact Washington and Tokyo review funding for a US logic chip factory operated by GlobalFoundries as part of Japan's $550 billion… | Global | GlobalFoundries, Tokyo Electron, Shin-Etsu Chemical, Toyota Motor | high | sec.gov | |
| Stellantis shifts Leapmotor electric car assembly to Spain The Franco-Italian automaker prepares 40,000 units of annual B10 SUV capacity in Zaragoza after abandoning Polish… | China | Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, Stellantis N.V., Contemporary Amperex Technology, Chery Automobile | high | media.stellantis.com | |
| US House advances 100% tariff bill on Russian crude buyers The measure targets major importers including India and China with secondary duties, threatening refining margins built on… | Global | Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy | high | rules.house.gov | |
| BYD plans three European car plants to counter EU tariffs Special adviser Alfredo Altavilla confirmed Sept. 16 that the Chinese carmaker seeks three assembly facilities and a battery cell… | China | BYD, Stellantis, Renault, Volkswagen | high | www1.hkexnews.hk | |
| China Gas buys US LNG from Venture Global under 20-year pact The 0.5-million-tonne annual purchase expands the Chinese distributor's contracted volume from Louisiana export terminals to 2.5… | China | China Gas Holdings, Venture Global, PetroChina, Sinopec | high | energy.gov | |
| China and South Africa advance battery mineral refining pact Beijing seeks overseas processing hubs to bypass Western trade barriers as Pretoria demands that refiners add value to its 37%… | China | Contemporary Amperex Technology, BYD | high | english.mofcom.gov.cn | |
| China opens zero-tariff market access for Seychelles goods The early harvest agreement eliminates import duties across all tariff lines for the island state as Beijing expands its… | China | COSCO Shipping Holdings, China State Construction Engineering | high | mofcom.gov.cn | |
| Lotus absorbs 18.8% EU tariff to defend European deliveries The Zhejiang Geely affiliate relies on hybrid models and parent capital to absorb Brussels import duties after reporting a $151… | China | Lotus Technology, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Porsche, Bayerische Motoren Werke | high | eur-lex.europa.eu | |
| GM and Stellantis weigh Korean auto parts suppliers amid China risks Detroit automakers held over 200 sourcing meetings with 61 Korean component vendors as supply chain derisking pressures mount… | Global | General Motors, Stellantis, CNH Industrial, Samsung SDI | high | sec.gov | |
| China confirms reciprocal tariff talks with US on $30B trade Working-level negotiators seek to apply most-favored-nation duties to non-sensitive imports through a newly formed bilateral… | China | Boeing, General Electric, Tokyo Electron | high | mofcom.gov.cn | |
| Korea Customs finds $410 million tariff-rate quota abuse across 10 firms The agency will tighten declaration deadlines and surcharge caps after 10 food importers evaded 58.6 billion won in taxes by… | Korea | Korea Customs Service, National Tax Service | medium | policenews24.co.kr | |
| Sungrow picks Samsung SDI cells to protect US storage sales The Chinese grid supplier is securing South Korean lithium iron phosphate cells to sidestep rising tariffs and safeguard… | China | Sungrow Power Supply, Samsung SDI, Stellantis | medium | samsungsdi.com | |
| Tesla sweeps Canada EV import quota as Chinese makers wait Ottawa rolled over 8,897 unused vehicle slots on Sept. 1 into a 33,397-car window, leaving Elon Musk's Shanghai plant as the main… | Global | Tesla, BYD, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Ford Motor | medium | globalchinaev.com | |
| BYD tests Ti7 in Canada with second-generation Blade battery A leaked evaluation sheet shows an all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid setup that the Shenzhen automaker has not deployed in its… | China | BYD, Transport Canada | medium | eletric-vehicles.com | |
| China waives African import duties to lock in strategic ores Beijing’s tariff exemption across 53 countries accelerated imports of copper, lithium and farm produce through July, insulating… | China | — | high | mofcom.gov.cn | |
| CATL holds 314Ah storage cell prices steady at 0.423 yuan Official platform listings on Sept. 4 contradicted trade reports of aggressive price cuts, even as South Korean battery makers… | China | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On | medium | indexbox.io | |
| Air Products commits record capital to South Korea chip fabs The industrial gas supplier filed plans with Seoul on Sept. 4 to build dedicated Pyeongtaek facilities for Samsung Electronics,… | Korea | Air Products, Samsung Electronics, Axcelis Technologies, Corning | medium | airproducts.com | |
| Xi Jinping plans business delegation for Donald Trump summit Beijing aims to ease trade friction and protect cross-border commerce as U.S. | China | Boeing, Apple, Nvidia, Tesla | high | fmprc.gov.cn | |
| BYD launches 130 kWh LFP pack in Denza SUV with 960 km range The 3.1-ton N8L EV brings high-capacity blade cells into luxury three-row SUVs, challenging the range monopoly held by… | China | BYD, Denza, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI | medium | autoevolution.com | |
| Wacker Chemie keeps Tennessee plant open despite US tariffs A Section 232 tariff order designed to shield domestic polysilicon is eroding orders at the German group's Charleston site by… | Global | Wacker Chemie | high | whitehouse.gov | |
| LG Energy Solution details $4.3B Tesla battery supply for US energy storage The South Korean battery maker will produce lithium iron phosphate cells at its Lansing plant to supply Tesla Megapack 3 units,… | Korea | LG Energy Solution, Tesla, General Motors, Smackover Lithium | medium | joongang.co.kr | |
| Japan offers U.S. chip investment to win semiconductor tariff relief Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa met Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to protect Japanese chip suppliers using Tokyo's $550… | Japan | SoftBank Group, Toshiba, Westinghouse, Tokyo Electron | high | meti.go.jp | |
| Korea presses US for equal chip tariff terms as Lutnick warns of import levies Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Seoul is negotiating to ensure domestic chipmakers face terms no worse than competitors under… | Korea | Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Nvidia | high | motir.go.kr | |
| US 100% drone tariffs take effect as Chinese hardware faces border wall The Section 232 duties penalize heavy and thermal-equipped unmanned aircraft while granting a 15% rate to allied suppliers in… | Global | Da-Jiang Innovations, Terra Drone Corporation | high | whitehouse.gov | |
| Japan bids to host permanent CPTPP secretariat to steer Asia-Pacific trade rules The trade ministry requested initial funding in its fiscal 2027 budget ahead of a formal proposal to member economies in Vietnam… | Japan | — | high | meti.go.jp | |
| US and China open talks on $30 billion reciprocal tariff reduction Negotiators review public filings on non-sensitive industrial goods and farm products to build exclusion lists under a bilateral… | Global | National Association of Music Merchants | high | ustr.gov | |
| Innometry sweeps Samsung SDI US ESS battery inspection orders The South Korean inspection vendor secured CT equipment contracts across all three Indiana energy storage lines, booking 15.8… | Korea | Innometry, Samsung SDI, Stellantis, Tesla | medium | thelec.net | |
| SK On Secures 18 GWh US LFP Battery Supply Deal with NeoVolta Power The five-year agreement delivers 9 gigawatt-hours of Georgia-made cells to NeoVolta and outlines a second 9 gigawatt-hour… | Korea | SK On, NeoVolta, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI | medium | thelec.net | |
| Corporate Clean Power Purchase Grid Fees Diverge Across East Asian Tech Hubs Disparate wheeling rates, capacity charges, and statutory levies in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan alter delivered electricity… | Global | Korea Electric Power Corporation | high | egc.meti.go.jp | |
| Korean cathode makers retool production lines for LMFP chemistry as price war spreads LG Chem, EcoPro BM, and POSCO Future M accelerate manganese-doped phosphate materials to defend mid-tier electric vehicle supply… | Korea | LG Chem, EcoPro BM, POSCO Future M, Contemporary Amperex Technology | — | — | |
| BYD and Geely expand Southeast Asian assembly lines to build regional export hubs Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers scale localized parts procurement across Thailand and Indonesia to meet ASEAN tariff… | China | BYD Company, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, SAIC Motor, Great Wall Motor | — | — | |
| LG Energy Solution converts EV lines to accelerate ESS LFP pouch cell output The South Korean battery maker is ramping dedicated stationary storage capacity in China and the United States to secure… | Korea | LG Energy Solution | — | — | |
| Asian Shipyard Heavy Plate Costs Diverge as Mills and Builders Clash Over Contract Pricing Structural gaps in domestic steel contracts and Chinese export plate inflows across South Korea, China, and Japan are shifting… | Global | POSCO Holdings, Nippon Steel, Baoshan Iron & Steel, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries | — | — | |
| Hyundai accelerates Ulsan EV conversion to balance export lines with global demand The 2-trillion-won dedicated facility introduces flexible cell manufacturing to balance domestic output against overseas plant… | Korea | Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Mobis, Kia Corporation, LG Energy Solution | — | — |
Companies appearing in this tracker
This tracker is built from East Asia Brief briefings and updates as we publish. Where a briefing rests on a document we can link, the source column points at that document, not at our coverage of it. Confidence grades are explained on our methodology page. Something missing? Tell us.