Japan eyeing ‘appropriate’ response to US auto tariffs
Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on foreign-made cars has sent shares in Japanese auto giants such as Toyota down sharply on Thursday. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
TOKYO, Japan – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Thursday that his government is considering “appropriate measures” in response to US tariffs on car imports.
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday 25 percent tariffs “on all cars that are not made in the United States” effective 12:01 am eastern time on April 3.
“We have to think about appropriate measures following this announcement. Naturally, we will consider all options,” Ishiba told parliament.
READ: Trump announces 25% tariffs on foreign-built vehicles
“Japan has made significant investments and significant job creation, which doesn’t apply to all countries… We are the number one (country) in investment in the United States,” Ishiba added.
“The US president’s understanding on this is significantly deepening. However, various things are happening, so we are considering all kinds of countermeasures, and those exist as our options.”
Trump’s announcement sent shares in Japanese auto giants down sharply on Thursday.
The world’s top-selling automaker Toyota was down almost 3.5 percent, while Nissan shed 2.5 percent and Honda fell as much as 3.1 percent.
Mitsubishi Motors was down 4.5 percent, while Mazda fell 5.9 percent and Subaru 6.1 percent.
In South Korea, Hyundai shares dipped 2.7 percent.
The auto industry is a huge pillar of the Japanese economy, with about 10 percent of jobs there connected to the sector.
Vehicles accounted for roughly a third of Japan’s 21.3 trillion yen ($142 billion) of US-bound exports in 2024.
Earlier in March, the chair of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) warned of the impact of US trade protectionism at a Tokyo press conference.
A 25 percent tariff “would have a negative impact overall on the economies of the United States and Japan”, Masanori Katayama said.
Japanese ministers have been lobbying their US counterparts to secure tariff exemptions for goods like steel and vehicles, but these requests have been denied.
The Trump administration says levies are a way to raise government revenue, revitalize American industry and press countries on US priorities.
But targeting imported cars could strain ties with close US partners.
About 50 percent of cars sold in the United States are manufactured within the country. Among imports, about half come from Mexico and Canada, with Japan, South Korea and Germany also major suppliers.
