'Strap in tightly' Global reaction to Trump's trade war

The reaction to the upending of decades of US foreign and trade policy has been swift and dramatic, with Asian markets plunging yesterday morning.

- Amy Hawkins

Here we break down the individual responses by country to the new global economic order.

South Korea

The country's acting president, Han Duck-soo, has vowed an "all-out" response as Asia's fourth-biggest economy reeled from yesterday's imposition of 25% tariffs on its exports to the US. Han instructed senior officials to urgently address the crisis during an emergency meeting of his economic and security strategy taskforce, the Yonhap news agency reported.

"As the situation is very grave with the approach of the reality of a global tariff war, the government must pour out all of its capabilities at its disposal to overcome this trade crisis," Han said.

The auto industry is expected to be hit particularly hard by the latest round in Trump's trade war, with the leading carmakers Hyundai and GM Korea expected to see a decline in US exports. South Korea exported vehicles worth $34.74bn (£27bn) to the US last year, the Korea Herald said, accounting for 49% of the country's car exports.

Japan

The prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said: "Japan is a country that is making the largest amount of investment to the United States, so we wonder if it makes sense for [Washington] to apply uniform tariffs to all countries."

The trade and industry minister, Yoji Muto, described the tariffs as "extremely regrettable" and said Tokyo was still attempting to persuade the Trump administration to think again. "I have conveyed that the unilateral tariff measures taken by the United States are extremely regrettable, and I have again strongly urged Washington not to apply them to Japan," Muto told reporters.