South Korea has been the major target of protectionist measures by nations around the world to protect their own markets , triggering concerns that the nation ’ s exports could suffer setbacks . One out of four protectionist measures , introduced since the 2008 global financial crisis , are pointed at Korea . In addition , Korea has been faced with the second highest anti - dumping lawsuits worldwide after China . According to Hyundai Research Institute ’ s report titled ‘ Overcome Stealth Protectionism Barriers ’ released Sunday , based on the survey of a private trade think - tank Global Trade Alert , 4 , 521 protectionist measures were imposed worldwide from 2009 to 2014 , 1 , 084 of which aim at Korean companies and their products . China faced the highest 2 , 103 protectionist measures followed by the US with 1 , 441 and Germany 1 , 269 . Korea ranked seventh , it said . In the steel sector , the Korean companies and their products are affected by protectionist measures of the US ’ s anti - dumping tariffs on oil country tubular goods and EU ’ s investigation into grain oriented electrical steel sheet . In the auto sector , Turkey ’ s request for technological standardization from Turk Standardlari Enstitusu ( TSE ) , Indonesia ’ s luxury tax and Vietnam ’ s import approval system are singled out as major protectionist measures against Korea . [ ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]