Asia markets rise as Trump signs U.S-Japan auto tariff deal

September 05, 2025 (MLN): Asia-Pacific markets advanced on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order lowering tariffs on Japanese auto imports and securing a major investment deal.

The order reduced the tariff on Japanese vehicles to 15% from 27.5% and confirmed $550 billion in Japanese investments in U.S. projects, according to CNBC.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 climbed 1.39% and the Topix gained 0.86%, supported by data showing July household spending rose 1.4% year-on-year.

South Korea’s Kospi added 0.26%, while the Kosdaq rose 0.35%.

Semiconductor stocks rallied after Trump said his administration intends to impose tariffs on chip imports from firms that do not shift production to the U.S., remarks made ahead of his dinner with leading tech CEOs at the White House Rose Garden.

Advantest advanced 2.99%, Lasertec rose 3.24%, TSMC gained 1.29%, and SK Hynix jumped more than 3%.

Elsewhere in the region, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.58%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged higher by 0.17%, while the mainland CSI 300 ended flat. Markets in Malaysia and Indonesia were shut for holidays.

In early Asian trading, U.S. equity futures were little changed ahead of the release of the August jobs report later Friday.

The S&P 500 gained 0.83% to 6,502.08, marking its 21st record close this year.

The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.98% to 21,707.69, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 350.06 points, or 0.77%, to 45,621.29.

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