Japan to approach US for tariff reprieve

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba says his government will continue to ask US President Donald Trump to lower tariffs against Japan, but admits results "won't come overnight".

"As such, the government must take all available means" to cushion the economic blow from US tariffs, such as offering funding support for domestic firms and taking measures to protect jobs, Ishiba told parliament on Monday.

Ishiba said Trump's decision to slap tariffs on imports from Japan was "extremely disappointing and regrettable", adding that Japan would continue to explain that it had done nothing unfair to the United States.

Ishiba also said he was willing to visit the United States for a meeting with Trump as soon as possible.

"But in doing so, we must ready a package of steps on what Japan could do," he added.

Trump's decision to slap a 25 per cent levy on auto imports, and a reciprocal 24 per cent tariff on other Japanese goods, is expected to deal a huge blow to Japan's export-heavy economy with analysts predicting the higher duties could knock up to 0.8 per cent off economic growth.