The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Oh Young-joo, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups ) announced 'additional support measures for SMEs in response to US tariffs' at the economic-related ministerial meeting on the 14th.
'The export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in the first quarter of 2025 was 27 billion dollars, the second highest performance ever for the first quarter, showing a good performance despite difficult conditions, but the export performance of steel and aluminum to the US in the first quarter, which was subject to a 25% tariff, is showing a decrease.
In particular, exporting SMEs are showing great concern about the reciprocal tariffs scheduled to take effect on July 9, and many exporting SMEs are demanding government support to respond to 'export country diversification' and 'delays/cancellations of export contracts'.
Accordingly, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has prepared an 'Additional Support Plan for SMEs in Response to US Tariffs' based on a survey of SMEs to minimize damage to our SMEs and enhance export vitality in response to the rapidly changing global trade environment, including the US tariff imposition measures.
◆ Strengthening the specialized support system for emergency response to customs difficulties
▲ Comprehensive expansion of customs consultation windows, including introduction of 1:1 dedicated management for affected companies, AI consultation, and formation of overseas mentoring groups
First, we will strengthen the customs difficulty consultation function of the 'SME Export Difficulty Report Center'. We will introduce a 1:1 dedicated management system for companies affected by customs duties, and provide close management so that the damage can be resolved in a timely manner by guiding and connecting the affected companies to government support projects. In addition, we plan to provide more in-depth customs-related information by connecting the 15 SME Export Difficulty Report Centers nationwide with the 6 headquarters and direct customs offices of the Korea Customs Service through a hotline.
Next, in preparation for the expansion of the scope of tariff impact due to the implementation of reciprocal tariffs, we will add a consultation window for tariff-related difficulties. We plan to support tariff consultation through the existing Export Regulations Response Team, and to establish an 'Export Tariff AI Chatbot Consultation' menu within the Export Regulations Response Team KakaoTalk channel. In addition, we plan to form an overseas mentoring group for each of the 14 countries where GBC is established to transfer export and local advancement know-how to the relevant country, as well as provide consultation on the current status of US tariff measures and related systems that should be considered when advancing into the relevant country.
▲ Solving on-site difficulties centered on the ‘One-Stop Customs Response Support Headquarters’
The existing 'One-Stop Export and Order Support Team' will be strengthened in terms of organization and function to operate as a 'One-Stop Customs Response Support Headquarters' that will oversee the reception and response to customs difficulties. The plan is to collect and manage customs difficulties received by individual organizations such as Customs Response 119 and Export Difficulty Report Center in an integrated manner, and to review the processing performance every week to promote a rapid response at the government level.
In addition, we plan to provide integrated information through our website (export119.go.kr) so that users can view government support policies related to customs and trade information with major countries at a glance, and to strengthen on-site communication such as on-site corporate consultations and briefing sessions.
◆ Supply of emergency funds and alleviation of management difficulties
▲ Rapid liquidity supply to affected companies, including additional supply of 0.4 trillion won in emergency funds and establishment of a 4.2 trillion won ‘crisis overcoming special guarantee’
In order to support management difficulties due to global trade risks such as high exchange rates and tariffs, an additional emergency fund of 0.4 trillion won (emergency management stabilization fund of 0.3 trillion won and trade risk response emergency fund of 0.1 trillion won) will be supplied, and a 'crisis overcoming special guarantee' of 4.2 trillion won will be newly established and operated.
For the additional funds supplied this time, we plan to apply a fast track system, including simplifying the evaluation process and exempting policy priority evaluations, to quickly support damage recovery and alleviation of management difficulties.
▲ Additional support of KRW 174.5 billion in export vouchers, alleviation of management difficulties through strengthening of logistics cost support system
We will comprehensively support resolution of export difficulties due to the rapidly changing trade environment by additionally operating an 'Export Voucher' worth 174.5 billion won that supports customs-related services and existing overseas marketing services (8,000 in 14 fields).
In addition, we plan to expand the discount rate on logistics costs for exports to the U.S. through collaboration with large logistics companies such as Hanjin, and to increase the support limit for companies exporting to the U.S. when supporting the use of fulfillment services.
◆ Diversification of export markets and strengthening of market development capabilities
▲ Additional supply of KRW 100 billion in new market entry funds, expansion of overseas exhibitions for major tariff-affected items, and support for diversification of export countries
In order to develop new markets for exporting SMEs and diversify export destinations, an additional KRW 100 billion in new market entry funds will be supplied (originally KRW 382.5 billion → KRW 482.5 billion reflected in the supplementary budget), and support for participation in overseas exhibitions will be expanded, focusing on major items that are significantly affected by U.S. tariff measures.
In addition, we plan to dispatch delegations to strategic startup markets such as UAE (Dubai), Japan (Osaka), and Germany (Berlin) and prepare a roadmap for entry into each country to promote the diversification of startup export markets.
▲ Strengthening response capabilities to non-tariff barriers such as overseas standard certification support
In order to respond to export regulations that act as non-tariff barriers, an additional 10 billion won will be provided to support the cost of obtaining overseas certification, and a new “pre-certification review and diagnosis” program will be established in which experts will provide consulting on reviewing certification documents and preliminary judgment of suitability to increase the success rate of obtaining certification for companies new to exporting.
▲ Promoting cooperation between large and small companies through ‘Deep Tech Value Up Program’ and ‘Startup Innovation’
In order to enhance the competitiveness of the export ecosystem, we will create a 'Deep Tech Value-Up Program' to support open innovation between large and small businesses and a 10 billion won Value-Up Fund for follow-up investment matching.
In addition, we plan to promote overseas expansion of startups by expanding the 'Startup Open Innovation' centered on large corporations to medium-sized companies and public institutions with new business demand, and introducing a '2-stage program' that supports technological advancement in the first year and market entry using large corporation networks in the second year through collaboration with global corporations.
◆ Strengthening the customs response policy base and support system
▲ Holding of a customs response meeting and promotion of advancement of the global business center
We plan to hold a 'Joint Meeting of SME Export Support Agencies' where SME export support agencies will review export policies such as responses to US tariffs and discuss supplementary measures, and to enhance trade risk response by upgrading the operation system of the US (New York) and China (Shanghai) Global Business Centers and strengthening their policy base functions such as discovering joint projects for tariff response by region.
▲ Eradicate unfair trade related to tariffs and expand incentives for excellent companies for win-win cooperation
In order to eradicate unfair trade practices such as passing on the burden of lowering export prices due to tariffs to subordinate partners, we will strengthen monitoring and expand consulting and publicity on the introduction of a supply price linkage system to share the burden when raw material prices fluctuate.
In addition, we plan to provide incentives, such as preferential selection of ‘Win-Win Honors’ to excellent companies in win-win cooperation related to tariff measures.
Minister Oh Young-joo said, “This measure is an additional support measure prepared based on a survey of exporting SMEs on the impact of U.S. tariffs on their exports. We will not spare policy support to minimize the damage to our SMEs and help them create new opportunities in the global market.”
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