Karachi, Pakistan - Japan on Sunday expressed "serious concern" over the potential impact of tariffs imposed by the United States on China, Canada and Mexico.
Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said on television he was "deeply concerned about the potential impact on the global economy," Kyodo news agency reported.
Kato stressed the need to make a "thorough assessment" of exchange rate movements as well as the outlook for monetary policy in the US, Japan's main trading partner.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered tariffs of 25 per cent on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 per cent on goods from China.
This policy has drawn sharp criticism and threats of retaliation from the three countries.
Canada responded quickly by announcing a retaliatory tariff of 25 percent on US imports.
"We need to carefully examine how this policy will impact Japan and take necessary steps in response," Kato said, referring to concerns about inflation that could arise from Washington's massive tariffs.