South Korea: The US-European dairy tariffs will be abolished from January 2026

It is pointed out that if full opening of dairy products begins in 2026 at the earliest according to free trade agreements (FTAs) with each country, the position of the domestic milk industry may become narrower. According to the milk industry on the 3rd, tariffs on dairy products (milk and cream) from the United States and the European Union will be abolished from January 2026. In the case of US imports, the tariff applied this year is 7.2%, but it will be lowered step by step, such as 4.8% next year, 2.4% in 2025, and 0% in 2026. EU dairy products also have tariffs of 9.0% this year, which are gradually lowered every year, and will disappear altogether in 2026. As processed oil is already imported from abroad, imports are rapidly increasing. According to the Korea Customs Service, total imports of domestic dairy products increased from 958,400 tons in 2019 to 1,534,900 tons last year. Sterilized milk that can be stored at room temperature has a long shelf life and is cheaper ...