Top US diplomat meets counterparts from South Korea, Japan after Trump tariff announcement

​​​​​​​By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) – The US top diplomat met with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts Thursday in Brussels, one day after President Donald Trump announced global tariffs, Yonhap News Agency reported.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sideline of a NATO foreign ministerial meeting and its partner countries.

It was the second trilateral meeting since Trump took office in January, following talks in February in Munich.

The meeting was held after Trump announced a minimum 10 percent "baseline" tariff Wednesday on all imports to the US and "reciprocal" tariffs, including 26% duties for South Korea and 24% for Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the tariffs "unfortunate” and “regrettable."

Ishiba, vowing to protect Japanese industries and jobs, responded by saying his country "won't hesitate to urge Trump to rethink tariffs if needed."

South Korea's acting president instructed the government to go "all-out" to respond to the 25% on imports from his country.

"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," said Han Duck-soo.

He instructed the government to immediately formulate emergency support measures for companies and sectors hit by the tariffs, including the auto industry.