With 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea, US President Donald Trump has continued to punish allies and reward traditional adversaries like Russia and North Korea that face zero tariffs. Such a behaviour the purported US pivot to the Indo-Pacific and risk alienating traditional allies.

President Donald Trump on Monday informed seven nations, including Japan and South Korea, that new tariffs of at least 25% will be imposed starting Aug. 1 on most goods sent to the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to add an additional 10 percent tariff to any country aligned with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and then later threatened 25 percent tariffs as of 1 August on China, South Korea, and Japan, as his “liberation day” tariff pause is poised to expire on 9 July.