Asian Shares Mixed Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Bangkok: Asian stocks got a mixed start to trading Monday as uncertainty persisted over what President Donald Trump will do with tariffs. US futures were lower and oil prices also fell.

Shares in China led losses in Asia, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index down 1.8 per cent at 23,800.44. The Shanghai Composite index shed 0.2 per cent to 3,366.16. In the latest sign of weakness for the world’s second-largest economy, consumer prices fell in China in February for the first time in 13 months, as persistent weak demand was compounded by the early timing of the Lunar New Year holiday. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.4 per cent to 37,028.27. Japan’s trade minister, Yoji Muto, was visiting Washington for talks on ways to avert higher US tariffs on Japanese exports of steel, aluminum, and automobiles. “Taking into account the voices we have heard from the industrial sector, we would like to hold discussions that will be a win-win for both Japan and the US,” Muto told reporters late last week.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will take effect Wednesday.