South Korea's export sector experienced a 5.2% year-on-year contraction in the first 20 days of April, according to customs data released on Monday. This downturn was significantly influenced by a sharp decline in shipments destined for the United States, a direct consequence of President Donald Trump's recently implemented sweeping tariff policies.

The United States initiated a 10% blanket tariff and a 25% tariff on automobiles this month. While a 25% reciprocal tariff on South Korean goods is currently on a 90-day pause, the initial impact of the US measures is already evident.

Exports to the US witnessed a substantial 14.3% decrease during this period. Shipments to China, already embroiled in a trade war with Washington, also saw a decline of 3.4%. In contrast, exports to the European Union showed resilience, registering a 13.8% increase.

Analyzing specific product categories, South Korea's automobile exports fell by 6.5%, and shipments of auto parts decreased by 1.7%. Semiconductors, a key export for South Korea, bucked the trend with a notable 10.7% increase. This early data underscores the potential disruptive impact of the new US tariff regime on global trade flows and the vulnerability of export-oriented economies like South Korea.