Samsung Electronics has decided to suspend its plans to move part of its refrigerator production from its plant in Gwangju, South Korea, to Mexico. The city's mayor, Kang Gi-jung, reported that during his visit to the local Samsung Electronics plant, the factory's vice president, Park Sung-ho, indicated that the plan to move refrigerator production is no longer in effect for the time being.
Kang revealed this information during a press conference, citing local media such as the Yonhap News Agency and the Korea JoongAng Daily. Despite speculation about whether this decision is related to the new tariff measures from the United States, Samsung has remained silent on the matter, only stating that they will monitor the situation and respond flexibly.
Previously, it had been rumored that Samsung Electronics was considering moving production of old refrigerator models to Mexico, which had raised concerns in the local community. However, instead of expanding operations abroad, the company is evaluating plans to ensure the operational stability of its Gwangju plant, taking into account the risks associated with President Donald Trump's trade policy.
Currently, Samsung operates two factories in Mexico, one in Querétaro dedicated to home appliance production and another in Tijuana specialized in televisions. With uncertainty surrounding the tariffs imposed by the United States, South Korea is seeking to minimize the impact of these measures, while major South Korean companies with a presence in Mexico may be evaluating moving part of their operations to the United States to avoid additional costs associated with Trump's "America First" policy.
The White House has suggested that Samsung and LG are considering moving their plants from Mexico to the United States. Apparently, Samsung is thinking about relocating some dryer manufacturing from its Querétaro plant to its home appliance factory in Newberry, South Carolina.