Asia's manufacturing powerhouses were desperately seeking talks with Washington on Thursday after Donald Trump announced 10 percent "reciprocal" tariffs, and even more for some longtime US allies.

These include Japan, whose firms are the biggest investors into the United States but which was saddled with a 24 percent levy on its imports into the world's biggest economy.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba promised Trump in February a trillion dollars in investments, while the US president said Japan would partner in a "gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska".

Ishiba called the tariffs announcement "extremely regrettable" and the government was tight-lipped about any retaliatory measures.

Japan has also failed to win exclusion from 25 percent tariffs on car imports into the United States that bit on Thursday.

Those also hit South Korea, another close US ally which was saddled with new tariffs of 26 percent on Thursday.

Acting President Han Duck-soo said "the global tariff war has become a reality", instructing his trade minister to "actively engage in negotiations with the US to minimise........

© International Business Times