Japan premier says 'all options on table' against possible US auto tariffs

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Japan on Thursday vowed to respond to US President Donald Trump’s planned auto tariffs, saying all options are available.

"We must consider steps to respond appropriately. We have all possible options on the table," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, according to Kyodo News.

The government's top spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi also strongly reacted to the US move and said Tokyo would respond "appropriately" as all options are available.

Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on imports of foreign-made cars and light trucks to be effective from April 2.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi called Trump’s latest move "extremely regrettable" and said Japanese automakers have made direct investments into the US worth around $61.6 billion and created around 2.3 million jobs.

"It's extremely regrettable that the United States decided to hike auto tariffs with no exceptions. We will carefully examine the impact on Japan and will continue to strongly call for an exemption," he added.