Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan, speaks during a press conference at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Kiyoshi ota | Through Reuters
The tariff letters of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who threaten steep duties in several countries, including key allies, have led to “shock” and “repentance”, even when the nations expressed optimism that negotiations would produce favorable results.
Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said that the last tariff announcement was “truly unfortunate”, while emphasizing that it would continue negotiations with the United States government, according to local media reports.
Japan is between the two nations to see an increase in the “reciprocal” tariff rate that Trump had announced in April. Japanese imports to the United States will face a 25% tax, as of August 1, according to the White House, higher than the 24% announced above.
In a meeting with the cabinet ministers on Japan’s strategy on tariffs, Istiba said the Trump administration had proposed a plan to continue the conversations until the deadline of August.
“Depending on Japan’s response, the content of the letter could be checked,” Istiba said at the meeting on Tuesday morning, hours after Trump published a copy of his fees on the social media platform Truth Social.
Meanwhile, South Korean leaders promised to accelerate tariff negotiations with the Trump administration to “quickly resolve commercial uncertainties,” said Yonhap News, citing a statement from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy.
Trump announced a general rate of 20% on imports in the country, without changes in its “reciprocal” rate announced in April.
According to the reports, Yeo Han-Koo, Minister of Commerce of South Korea, also asked us to reduce tariffs on cars, steel and other goods for Korean companies at a meeting with the United States Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, in Washington.
Thai finance minister, Pichai Chunhavajira, said Tuesday that he was “a little surprised” by the last rate, but was still “sure” that he will fall to similar levels to those of other countries, according to Reuters.
Thailand faces a 36% rate on its exports to the US, one of the most steep rates among the 14 nations Trump mentioned Monday, without changes from the level of April.
Malaysia, who saw his rates rate at 25% from the previously threatened 24% rate, said he will continue to relate to the United States to address pending problems.
“Malaysia undertakes to continue the commitment to the United States towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and integral trade agreement,” the Ministry of Investment, Commerce and Industry in a statement said Tuesday.
Outside Asia, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa did not agree with the 30% tariff rate in a statement published in X. The tax “was not a precise representation of the available commercial data,” Ramaphosa said, and added that 77% of US goods entered the country with zero rate.
South Africa will continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a “more balanced and mutually beneficial commercial relationship with the United States,” he said.
Deborah Elms, head of commercial policy of a Hinrich Foundation of Think Tank, said the negotiation efforts of countries with Trump seemed to have little impact on the result.
“The members of the ASEAN who worked hard to develop packages received almost all the same treatments as the countries that did not fly to DC or were not invited to meet,” Elms said, added that Trump may still be pointing to Asian nations of “concerns about regional supply chains that include China content.”
Trump shared card captures that detail new rates rates for more than a dozen countries in a series of social media publications on Monday, allowing space for new negotiations before the renewed deadline of August 1. The letters indicated that the United States could consider adjusting the new tariff levels.
