Japanese Shares Wobble as Tariff Concerns Weigh

The Nikkei 225 dipped 0.05% to around 39,670 on Wednesday, while the broader Topix Index edged up 0.25% to 2,823, as Japanese stocks struggled for clear direction amid heightened trade tensions. Investors weighed the latest tariff developments out of Washington, with US President Donald Trump confirming there would be no changes or extensions to the updated duties targeting 14 countries. Japan is set to face a 25% tariff beginning August 1. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo will continue negotiations with the US in search of a mutually beneficial outcome. Meanwhile, Trump also announced a 50% levy on copper imports and floated the possibility of tariffs as high as 200% on pharmaceutical products, amplifying concerns over global trade disruption. On the corporate front, losses were led by Advantest (-0.8%), Fujikura (-1.8%), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (-2.2%). On the upside, Sanrio climbed 2.1%, Kioxia Holdings jumped 4.9%, and Toyota Motor advanced 1.5%.