Transshipment is a trade practice that reroutes origin to lower tariffs; the U.S. has recently tightened monitoring to curb Chinese tariff evasion. Korea’s inclusion could be a new variable in Seoul-Washington trade ties.

The government and industry worry that normal global-supply-chain trade could be mistaken for transshipment. Chip and component industries rest on complex supply chains crossing many countries, so ambiguous rules could harm innocent firms.

For Korea’s Chinese traders and small manufacturers, the issue is direct. If origin proof and customs procedures grow stricter, transaction costs and risks rise together.

Hwagyo Sibo speaks for no side’s trade logic. What is confirmed is that the White House cited Korea as a transshipment-risk country and named the Gyeonggi chip belt as an example; whether actual measures follow will be settled in future talks.