Mills wait while Tokyo ponders 'options' to US auto tariff

Despite the potential huge damage to their businesses, the response of Japanese steelmakers and carmakers to Donald Trump's (albeit widely expected) announcement Wednesday of a 25% tariff on all imported cars and light trucks from April has been muted, with the companies evidently choosing to let their government speak for them. They're also hoping against the odds that Trump will be persuaded to make Japan-made vehicles an exception.

Addressing a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting in Tokyo on Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was cautious, both in his demeanour and his comments. "We'll need to think about an appropriate response," Ishiba said. "Naturally, all options will be subject to consideration." Ishiba told the committee he had