How Asian countries are reacting to Trump’s latest tariffs announcement as deadline looms

How Asian countries are reacting to Trump’s latest tariffs announcement as deadline looms


President Donald Trump speaks alongside Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday stateside rejigged the so-called “reciprocal” tariff rates for several countries, ahead of the Friday deadline announced earlier.

The White House also announced a 40% tariff rate for all goods transshipped to avoid the applicable duties.

Countries not listed in the latest order will face an additional duty of 10%. The updated directive modifies tariffs imposed under the earlier executive order issued in April.

Here are reactions from world leaders and countries in Asia as the clock ticks down to the Aug. 1 deadline. It was not immediately clear if that date had been pushed back for the tariffs to kick in.

Cambodia

“This is a good news for the citizens and economy of Cambodia to continue developing the country.” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Friday on Facebook after the revised table of tariffs was released.

Cambodia now faces 19% duties, a massive cut from the “Liberation Day” tariff level of 49% — which were among the highest rates announced on April 2.

Manet also thanked Trump for “initiating and pushing for ceasefire between [the] Cambodian army and Thai army.” The two countries were involved in a border conflict last week.

Thailand

Thailand’s Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said in a post on X that the tariff rate levied on the country “reflects the close friendship and partnership between Thailand and the United States,” according to a Google translation of his statement in Thai. The country faces 19% tariffs on exports to the U.S.

Chunhavajira added that the announced tariff helps Thailand remain competitive on the global stage, builds investor confidence and allows economic growth.

However, he said that the government recognizes the impact of the tariffs on entrepreneurs and farmers, and has prepared “comprehensive support measures,” including soft loans, subsidies, and tax measures so as to help Thailand adapt.

Taiwan

Taiwan has been hit with a 20% “temporary tariff,” President Lai Ching-te said on his Facebook page, adding that negotiations were still ongoing.

This is lower than the 32% rate announced on April 2. “If an agreement is reached, it can be expected that the tariff rate will be further reduced,” Lai wrote on Friday.

Taiwan will also discuss supply chain cooperation and issues related to Section 232 in the future, he added, referring to the sectoral tariffs that Trump had imposed on national security grounds.

— This article will be updated as more reactions come in.



Source

California voters approve new U.S. House map to boost Democrats in 2026
World

California voters approve new U.S. House map to boost Democrats in 2026

California voters approved new congressional district boundaries Tuesday, delivering a victory for Democrats in the state-by-state redistricting battle that will help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House in 2026 and, with it, the power to thwart or advance President Donald Trump’s agenda. The approval of Proposition 50 gives Democrats a shot at […]

Read More
Nvidia deepens India footprint with  billion deep tech alliance to mentor AI startups
World

Nvidia deepens India footprint with $2 billion deep tech alliance to mentor AI startups

Co-founder and CEO of Nvidia Jensen Huang spoke to journalists during a trip to Beijing in July. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Nvidia will help train and mentor emerging deep tech startups in India as a founding member of a $2 billion investment alliance, deepening its presence in the world’s third-largest startup […]

Read More
SoftBank shares plunge 10% as Asian AI-linked stocks slide on valuation jitters
World

SoftBank shares plunge 10% as Asian AI-linked stocks slide on valuation jitters

A woman uses her mobile phone as she walks past the logo of Japan’s telecommunications giant SoftBank in Tokyo on December 25, 2013. Toru Yamanaka | Afp | Getty Images Shares of Asian AI-linked companies and tech firms fell Wednesday, tracking declines in U.S. peers, as investors turned wary of stretched valuations in the market’s […]

Read More