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South Korea leads Asian foreign investment decline into US

South Korea leads Asian foreign investment decline into US

Nikkei Asia11-07-2025
Hyundai Motor's vehicle assembly plant in the U.S. state of Alabama. © Reuters
PAK YIU
NEW YORK -- New foreign direct investment from Asian countries into the U.S. declined 40% last year to $23.2 billion, with South Korea recording the biggest drop in new spending.
By region, Asia was the second-largest source of new investments in 2024 following Europe, which contributed $96.7 billion, new data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows. Total new foreign direct investment -- which includes acquisitions, establishing new U.S. businesses and expanding existing offices -- totaled $151 billion.
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Los Angeles resident Jen Chae, a content creator with over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, has explored Korean and Japanese beauty products and became personally intrigued by Chinese beauty brands over the last year. When the tariffs were first announced, Chae temporarily paused ordering from sites such as a shopping platform owned by an e-commerce company based in Hong Kong. She did not know if she would have to pay customs duties on the products she bought or the ones brands sent to her as a creator. 'I wasn't sure if those would automatically charge the entire package with a blanket tariff cost, or if it was just on certain items,' Chae said. On its website, YesStyle says it will give customers store credit to reimburse them for import charges. At Ohlolly, an online store focused on Korean products, owners Sue Greene and Herra Namhie are taking a similar pause. 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