Customs duty from South Korea to China: Import Duty Guide

Key Takeaways

• The China-Korea Free Trade Agreement, in force since 20 December 2015, gives 0% duty on qualifying South Korean originating goods.
• 2025-2026 marks the agreement’s 10th anniversary, with both sides pursuing a “phase two” upgrade covering services, investment, and the digital economy - talks are ongoing, not yet concluded.
• Electromechanical products made up about 67% of China-Korea bilateral trade in the first eleven months of 2025.
• China’s imports from South Korea reached an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan (roughly $170.9 billion) for the first eleven months of 2025, up 1.6% year on year.
• Semiconductors, electronic components, and computer parts are core South Korean export categories to China.

South Korea-China Trade at a Glance

China’s imports from South Korea reached an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan (roughly $170.9 billion) for the first eleven months of 2025, up 1.6% year on year, with electromechanical products alone accounting for about 67% of total bilateral trade over that period (Xinhua, via China’s State Council). A separate estimate put China’s imports from Korea at roughly $102 billion for January-July 2025 alone (China Briefing, citing China’s General Administration of Customs).

Is There a Trade Deal Between South Korea and China?

Yes - the China-Korea Free Trade Agreement, in force since 20 December 2015, remains fully active with no reported suspension. 2025-2026 marks its 10th anniversary, and both governments are actively pursuing a “phase two” upgrade covering services, investment, and the digital economy, areas the original agreement didn’t fully address - the 13th round of these talks was held in Beijing on 29 January 2026, indicating the upgrade remains under negotiation rather than concluded (Global Times; MLex).

How Much Will You Pay Importing from South Korea to China?

For genuinely Korean-originating goods that meet the FTA’s rules of origin, customs duty is 0%. Standard China-side mechanics still determine what else applies: orders under the postal regime pay a bundled 13/20/50% tax on declared goods value (waived if the tax owed is RMB 50 or less, capped at RMB 2,000 per shipment), while CBEC-qualifying orders pay 0% duty plus VAT and consumption tax at 70% of the standard rate, within RMB 5,000 per-transaction and RMB 26,000 per-year limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the China-Korea FTA still active?

Yes - it’s been continuously in force since December 2015 with no suspension, and 2025-2026 marks its 10th anniversary alongside active “phase two” upgrade negotiations.

What is the “phase two” upgrade about?

Extending the original agreement into areas it didn’t originally cover in depth - services, investment, and the digital economy - based on talks that were still ongoing as of early 2026, not yet finalized.

How big is South Korea-China trade?

China’s imports from South Korea reached an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan (roughly $170.9 billion) over the first eleven months of 2025, with electromechanical products making up about 67% of total bilateral trade.

What does South Korea mainly export to China?

Semiconductors, other electronic components, and computer parts are South Korea’s dominant export categories to China, reflecting its strength in advanced electronics manufacturing.