Japan calls Trump's latest tariff salvo 'regrettable' as nations scramble to deal with fresh deadline

U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff letters that endanger steep duties connected respective countries, including cardinal allies, person led to "shock" and "regret" adjacent arsenic nations expressed optimism that negotiations would output favorable results.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said the latest tariff announcement was "truly regrettable," portion stressing that helium would proceed negotiations with the U.S. government, according to section media reports.

Japan is among the 2 nations acceptable to to spot an summation successful the "reciprocal" tariff complaint that Trump had announced successful April. Japanese imports into the U.S. volition look a 25% levy, starting Aug. 1, according to the White House, higher than the 24% announced earlier.

At a gathering with furniture ministers connected Japan's strategy connected tariffs, Ishiba noted that the Trump medication had projected a program to proceed talks until the August deadline.

"Depending connected Japan's response, the contented of the missive could beryllium revised," Ishiba said astatine the gathering Tuesday morning, hours aft Trump posted a transcript of his tariff letters connected societal media level Truth Social.

Meanwhile, South Korea said it volition hold a effect meeting with applicable ministries astatine 1:30 p.m. section clip to sermon measures for tariff negotiations with the U.S.

Trump announced a 20% broad tariff connected imports from the country, unchanged from his "reciprocal" tariff level announced successful April.

The statesmanlike main of staff, Kim Yong-beom, is reportedly expected to be the meeting, on with elder aides to the authorities and officials from the ministries of industry, concern and overseas affairs, according to Yonhap News.

Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said Tuesday that helium was "a small shocked" by the latest tariff complaint but remained "confident" that it volition driblet to levels akin to those connected different countries, according to Reuters.

Thailand faces a 36% tariff connected its exports to the U.S. — 1 of the steepest rates among the 14 nations Trump mentioned Monday — unchanged from the April level.

Malaysia, which saw its tariff complaint emergence to 25% from the antecedently threatened 24%, said it volition proceed to prosecute with the U.S. to code outstanding issues.

"Malaysia is committed to continuing engagement with the US towards a balanced, mutually beneficial, and broad commercialized agreement," the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry said successful a connection Tuesday.

Outside Asia, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa disagreed with the 30% tariff complaint successful a statement posted connected X. The levy was "not an close practice of disposable commercialized data," Ramaphosa said, adding that 77% of U.S. goods entered the state with zero tariff.

South Africa volition proceed with its diplomatic efforts toward a "more balanced and mutually beneficial commercialized narration with the United States," helium said.

Deborah Elms, caput of commercialized argumentation astatine a deliberation vessel Hinrich Foundation, said countries' negotiating efforts with Trump seemed to person small interaction connected the outcome.

"ASEAN members that worked hard to make packages received astir each the aforesaid attraction arsenic countries that either did not alert to DC oregon were not invited to meet," Elms said, adding that Trump whitethorn inactive beryllium targeting Asian nations retired of "worries implicit determination proviso chains that see contented from China."

Trump shared screenshots of letters detailing caller tariff rates for implicit a twelve countries successful a bid of societal media posts Monday, allowing country for further negotiations earlier the renewed deadline of Aug. 1. The letters indicated that the U.S. could see adjusting the caller tariff levels.