U.S. President Trump announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles, scheduled to take effect on April 2. This decision has triggered a widespread downturn in Asia-Pacific stock markets, particularly in Japan, South Korea, and Australia, where stock indices have tumbled and automotive sector shares have incurred significant losses. Japanese and Korean automakers, including Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, have witnessed substantial declines in their share prices. Furthermore, Malaysia is enduring its longest stretch of capital outflows since 2018, with global investors having sold off a net value of over $2.1 billion in Malaysian equities this quarter.
