【By Observer News, Qi Qian】"Firstly, shock, then frustration, and finally anger," when talking about the reaction to President Trump's announcement of imposing tariffs on 14 countries, a former Japanese official used these three words to describe it.
According to Politico, a U.S. political news website, on July 8, Trump released tariff letters to 14 countries on July 7, with 10 of them from Asia, and once again made threatening remarks. For America's Asian trade partners, Trump's abrupt act of sending letters left them feeling frustrated and incredulous.
Previously, these countries believed they had engaged in sincere negotiations with the United States for months, but now it all seems like a wishful thinking.
The report mentioned that during the trade negotiations with Asian countries, the White House particularly pressured them to "cut ties with China's economy." However, this former Japanese official stated that Trump's tariffs "will push these countries toward China." A former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar also pointed out that Trump's move has confirmed an old saying in Asia, that the United States is far away and not reliable.
Besent said on July 8 that the tariffs this year would bring in $10 billion. Screenshot of the tweet
Trump's abrupt letter sparked anger in Japan and ASEAN
According to two sources from countries that received the letters, when Trump announced the letters, it was late at night in Asia, and the U.S. did not inform the governments of these countries beforehand. According to conversations with six current foreign officials, four former officials, and other informed sources, they generally felt angry about the way Trump sent the letters.
One government official said, "We had no idea what he was sending, who it was to, or how it was sent."
In response, White House officials denied the claim that they had not adequately informed their trade partners. They stated, "We have done our best through normal diplomatic channels to send these letters to the intended recipients before making them public."
The report points out that this approach by the U.S. may further worsen the atmosphere at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings. Later this week, the foreign ministers of ASEAN member states will gather in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio is expected to attend. However, out of the 10 ASEAN member states, six received Trump's tariff letters.
"There will be polite smiles at the main meetings, which is the way ASEAN welcomes guests," said Scott Mather, the U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs during the Obama administration. "But at bilateral meetings, ASEAN countries will convey a stronger message, that the U.S. is creating big problems."
A former Japanese official said that the Japanese government was especially upset about a statement by a White House official. That White House official claimed that the Trump administration had not yet received "meaningful contact" from Japan and other countries that received the letters.
In response, this former Japanese official stated that Japan's Trade Minister Akira Takashima has "visited Washington, D.C. almost every week recently." He pointed out, "If it's just saying we haven't said 'yes' to the U.S. demands, that's one thing, but this isn't a lack of contact. We have been fully involved."
According to Tokyo Broadcasting System, the Japanese government held a meeting of the comprehensive countermeasures headquarters on July 8 to discuss responses to the U.S. tariff measures.
Shigeru Ishiba responded at the meeting, saying, "We are very sorry about the U.S. announcement of increased tariffs... The Japanese government did not easily compromise during difficult negotiations, expressed what should be said, and protected what should be protected." He also said that the actual implementation date of the tariffs is August 1, which means the negotiation period has been extended, and the negotiations with the U.S. will continue.
On the same day, the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, Goro Nishimura, strongly criticized Trump's act of sending letters. "It is extremely impolite to notify an ally with a single letter," Nishimura clearly demanded the Japanese government, "we must not easily compromise due to the urgency of negotiations, and must firmly persist with a strong stance."
The White House published the tariff letters to 14 countries including Japan. Screenshot of the tweet
However, not all Asian officials expressed the same level of anger. Some shrugged off the latest threats, considering it merely a Trump-style political performance. Others saw Trump's statement as a way to extend the negotiation period by three weeks until August 1. An diplomat said, "It's just a gesture without specific content. Negotiations are still ongoing. The U.S. is pressuring us to accept its conditions."
Despite this, the officials of these countries unanimously denied the claim that they had not actively participated in negotiations with the Trump administration.
The report stated that since Trump raised the threat of "reciprocal" tariffs in April, Japan and South Korea have regularly met with Trump's chief negotiator, but the negotiations have stalled over defense spending, automobiles, and agricultural issues. Other smaller countries, such as Malaysia and Thailand, have actively sought to deepen the negotiations and have proposed buying more American goods as a gesture of goodwill.
"We shouldn't complain about Trump's capriciousness. Now is the time for us to strengthen ourselves," said former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to Politico, "so we (ASEAN) may temporarily forget the external market, especially the U.S., and reorganize ourselves."
"Trump's tariffs will push Asian countries toward China,"
Although there was strong opposition, so far, Trump has not softened his tone. On July 8, he stated at a cabinet meeting that the U.S. hopes to maintain relations with countries, "but in each case, their treatment of us is much worse than our treatment of them."
The White House framed the decision to send letters as a means to prompt the contacted countries to engage in "meaningful contact." A White House official said, "We have the advantage here. But we have not yet received serious proposals from Japan and South Korea, which is why we have not reached agreements with them."
On July 8, Trump discussed the tariff issue at a cabinet meeting. White House X account
Politico specifically mentioned that during the trade negotiations with Asian countries, the White House particularly pressured them to cut ties with China's economy. Trump's recent announcement of a preliminary agreement with Vietnam, which highlighted the so-called "transshipment" issue, threatened to impose 40% tariffs on non-Vietnamese goods. This agreement has drawn attention from China and other countries in the region.
On July 3, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded, stating that China firmly opposes any party achieving deals by sacrificing China's interests. If such a situation occurs, China will resolutely take countermeasures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
Trump's attempt to isolate China by pressuring Asian countries will backfire. Asian country officials predict that these clearly un-diplomatic actions by Trump may undermine the efforts the U.S. government has made over the years to build closer relationships in the region. Southeast Asian emerging economies, such as Vietnam and Cambodia, which maintain close ties with China, will distance themselves from the U.S.
"I'm sure that Trump's tariffs will push these countries toward China," said this former Japanese official, "in a way, Trump's tariffs are the biggest geopolitical gift to China. Tariffs will erode decades of efforts to pull these countries toward the West."
The report also noted that Trump's attempts to isolate China will cause unease among other Asian countries.
In recent years, China has increased its trade and investment in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the total trade volume between China and ASEAN countries exceeded $900 billion, roughly twice the trade volume between the region and the U.S. However, at the same time, the U.S. is raising the tariff stick to pressure Southeast Asian countries. The report analyzed that this makes Asian countries question whether it is worth abandoning their largest regional trade partner to reach an agreement with the U.S.
"This actually confirms an old saying in Asia," said Derek Mitchell, the U.S. ambassador to Myanmar during the Obama administration, "that the U.S. is unreliable and far away; while China is nearby and wants an open market."
The report mentioned that Japan and South Korea, as U.S. allies and major trading partners, are more independent from China in economic and political terms. Trump's disregard for long-term cooperation with Japan and South Korea may damage relations with the two countries. Tammy O'Beirne, a partner at the Albright Stonebridge Group, said, "We seem to treat all countries equally, but that's not the case. I think we must recognize that some countries are better friends."
On July 7, local time, Trump announced that the effective date of the "reciprocal tariffs" would be extended to August 1, and gradually published new tariff rates for multiple countries, in addition to Japan and South Korea, including smaller Asian economies such as Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
Bloomberg reported on July 8, citing analysis that Trump initially aimed at China, but found that this show of force "had little effect on China," so he could only get "victories" from smaller countries. A professor at the French Higher School of Economics and Management told Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, "The biggest losers will be the smaller Asian economies with larger trade surpluses with the U.S., and the U.S. is likely to extract more concessions from them."
On July 8, a reporter asked, "President Trump said on July 7 that starting from August 1, he would impose tariffs ranging from 25% to 40% on imported products from 14 countries including Japan and South Korea." The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, said that China's position on the tariff issue has always been consistent and clear, and that a tariff war and trade war have no winners, and that protectionism harms the interests of all parties concerned."
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