Japan’s prime minister calls Trump’s tariffs ‘difficult to understand’ after carmakers hit by new U.S. levies

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday that Donald Trump's views on tariffs were "difficult to understand" after the U.S. president announced 25% levies on imported cars and parts.

Just weeks after Ishiba and Trump held apparently friendly talks, the duties came as a major blow to Japan, one of Washington's closest economic and strategic allies. Japanese auto shares sank for the second day on Friday.

"What President Trump is saying is that there are both friends and foes and friends can be more difficult.