Tariff-Free Advantage: How Sangsin Brake Is Helping Customers Stay Competitive

The potential tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, China, and India could have substantial implications for distributors, retailers, and manufacturers alike.

However, Sangsin Brake America finds itself in a unique position to help its customers navigate these changes. We sat down with Brian Kirts, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Sangsin Brake America, to discuss how the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) provides Sangsin with a competitive advantage in the U.S. market.

In this interview, Brian shares insights on how Sangsin Brake is positioned to support its customers amidst these tariff uncertainties and discusses the company’s long-standing legacy in the brake industry.

With the recent announcement from President-elect Trump regarding proposed new tariffs, how do you see this impacting the brake industry, particularly for Sangsin Brake America?

President-elect Trump’s proposed tariffs are certainly going to create waves in the automotive industry, including the brake market. Specifically, we’re looking at a potential 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada, the threatened 100% tariff on products imported from India, as well as an additional 10% on the current 25% tariffs for goods from China. If these tariffs are enacted, it will undoubtedly affect pricing structures and create challenges for many distributors and retailers in the U.S. brake industry.

However, for Sangsin Brake, this situation also creates an opportunity. Because of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), most Korean-made brake parts, including those produced by Sangsin, are exempt from typical customs duties and tariffs. That means our brake pads, which are manufactured in Korea, will not incur the usual 2.5% customs duty or any additional tariffs. This advantage allows us to help our distributors and customers avoid the significant cost increases that may be coming with the new tariffs.

How do these exemptions under KORUS benefit your customers in a practical sense?

It’s all about staying competitive. Distributors and retailers who source brake pads from Sangsin can sidestep the burdensome costs associated with tariffs and customs duties. In an industry as competitive as ours, even a small percentage difference in pricing can make a big impact on market position and profitability. The KORUS agreement gives our customers a significant edge—essentially, they can offer the highest-quality brake pads without the increased costs that other products might face due to the proposed tariffs. This helps them maintain pricing flexibility and ultimately provide better value to their customers.

Given the potential cost advantages, do you foresee Sangsin Brake growing its market share in North America?

Absolutely. We’re positioned quite well to grow in the North American market, especially with the current economic environment. Sangsin has been a global leader in the brake industry for over 50 years, providing original equipment (OE) brake pads that automakers trust. Now, as we bring that same level of quality and reliability to the aftermarket in North America, our cost advantage—bolstered by KORUS—makes our products even more appealing. We believe that our combination of quality, value, and tariff-free pricing will resonate well with distributors and retailers seeking to maintain or enhance their competitive edge.

Can you tell us more about Sangsin Brake?

Sangsin Brake has a strong legacy, and we’re known for producing some of the safest, quietest, and most dependable OE and aftermarket brake pads available. We work to test and perfect our portfolio of brake pads with constant research and development. We accomplish this at our very own state-of-the-art Technology Research Center where we perform brake-specific testing on our large assemblage of dynamometers.

For those interested in learning more or purchasing Sangsin brake pads, what’s the best way to get in touch?

We’re always happy to discuss how our products can help distributors and retailers gain a competitive edge. Anyone interested can reach out to me directly at [email protected] for more information or to inquire about pricing.

Learn more about the company at sangsinusa.com

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