Asian stock markets opened sharply lower on Friday as investors digested the latest escalation in US trade policy, with President Donald Trump announcing new tariffs targeting more than 80 countries.
The broadening of the tariff net marks a significant intensification of the administration's trade stance, extending beyond previous rounds that focused on a smaller cohort of trading partners.
The move has triggered immediate repricing across global equity indices, with risk-off sentiment dominating early trading in Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai.
The sell-off underscores the market's growing sensitivity to the scope and speed of US protectionist measures.
While earlier tariff announcements targeted specific sectors or a limited number of nations, this latest expansion casts a wider shadow over global supply chains and export-dependent economies.
Investors are now grappling with the potential for retaliatory measures and the broader macroeconomic impact of reduced trade flows.