Trump has signed executive orders to impose 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium starting March 12, triggering angry reactions internationally including from Canada, Mexico, and the EU.

“We are aware of the presidential order about additional tariffs on steel and aluminium were issued… we have requested to the US government to exclude our country from the measures,” Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

“The request was made through the Japanese embassy in the US early today,” he said.

“Japan will carefully study the content of the measures and their impact on our country and take necessary policy,” he added.

Trump imposed similar tariffs during his first term to protect US producers faced with what he called unfair competition.

But his predecessor Joe Biden exempted Japan, allowing it to export up to 1.25 million tonnes of steel per year to the US without paying duties.

“That exemption, known as tariff quota, ‘will be revoked’,” a trade ministry official told AFP.

“Under Trump’s latest policy, tariff on steel will remain at 25%, while tariff on aluminium will be raised to 25% from the current 10%,” he said.