Benefits by Industry/Sector - Autos
The Facts About U.S. Access to the Korean Auto Market
Foreign Access: Once protected, the Korean auto market has continued to open to foreign imports. In 2010, the market share for imported passenger cars (based on registration) was 7.8% – which amounts to a 29% average annual increase since 2001.
The beneficiaries of the growth in imported auto sales in Korea have primarily been Japanese and European carmakers – with U.S. autos gaining only slightly.
Market Preferences: USITC estimates a “negligible” negative impact of the KORUS FTA on U.S. automakers. The difference in national market preferences may play the role. In the Korean auto market, with gas prices normally over $6 per gallon, consumers have a strong incentive to drive smaller cars. In fact, small cars with engine sizes of up to 2000 cc account for 77% of sales, while 94% of U.S. exports to Korea are big cars (over 2000 cc). EU autos exports to Korea are more balanced – with bigger cars accounting for 57% of sales.
Tariff Elimination
For passenger cars, Korea will immediately reduce its tariff from 8% to 4%, with the remaining tariff eliminated in Year Five while the U.S. will keep its 2.5% tariff until Year Five. Fortrucks, Korea will eliminate its 10% tariff immediately, while the 25% U.S. tariff will remain until the eighth yearand then be phased out by the tenth year. For electric cars, Korea will cut its tariffs from 8% to 4% immediately and the remaining tariffs will be phased out in four equal annual stages.
Non-Tariff Provisions
Taxes: To encourage lower fuel consumption, Korea imposes some vehicle taxes based on engine size – which charge higher taxes on cars with larger engine displacement. The KORUS FTA will significantly alter Korean auto tax provisions to reduce the emphasis on engine size (displacement).
- Korea’s “Special Consumption Tax” has tax brackets based on vehicle engine size. The agreement will reduce these from three to two. Taxes on cars with an engine larger than 2000 cc will be cut by half, leveling tax rates for all cars with engines over 1000 cc.
- Korea will also streamline its “Annual Vehicle Tax” from five to three categories, and reduce the tax rates on vehicles with engines larger than 2000 cc (the Cadillac CTS has an engine displacement of 3000 cc and the Ford Taurus has a 3500 cc displacement).
- The KORUS FTA provides that Korea is prohibited from adopting new taxes based on vehicle engine size, or from modifying existing taxes to increase the disparity in tax rates between categories of vehicles.
Transparency: Should a new regulation be introduced, there will be a 12-month period before auto companies must comply with it. This will ensure the auto companies have sufficient time to adjust to the regulation changes.
Emission and Safety Standards: The two countries will work towards further harmonization of standards through the KORUS FTA.
- Korea commits to bring emissions standards in line with California’s high standards – and will establish flexible standards for U.S. manufacturers that sell no more than 10,000 vehicles per year.
- Korea will introduce “fleet average system” (FAX) emission standards – providing flexibility to U.S. auto manufacturers.
- As long as the vehicles of a U.S. manufacturer selling no more than 25,000 units in Korea during the previous year comply with U.S. safety standards, they will be considered as in compliance with Korean standards as well.
Special Motor Vehicle Safeguard: The 2010 accompanying agreement establishes an auto-specific safeguard measure against serious injury from import surges, providing additional protection to the U.S. auto industry.
Strong Enforcement: The KORUS FTA provides for strong and expedited dispute settlement procedures, including full “snap-back” provisions allowing for the U.S. to reinstate the pre-FTA tariffs on passenger cars if the agreement’s terms are violated. The FTA will also establish an Auto Working Group that will provide an “early warning system” for potential concerns about future regulatory issues.
 |
Download PDF |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
