Japan and South Korea, the United States’ closest security allies in Asia and key partners in its effort to counter China, were sent scrambling Tuesday after the U.S. president renewed his threat to impose steep tariffs on their goods,

By Jeff Mason, Bart H. Meijer and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump opened a new phase on Monday in the trade war he launched this year, telling partners, from powerhouse suppliers such as Japan and South Korea to minor players,

While South Korean imports to the U.S. face 25% tariffs, the same as Trump promised in April, the rate on Japan has been raised by 1 percentage point to 25%.

President Trump's newly announced 25% tariffs on goods from South Korea and Japan closely reflect tariffs for each nation that Trump had announced on April 2, before implementing a 90-day pause that was set to expire Wednesday.

"Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Japan's Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States,

Trump plans new tariffs as the 90-day pause on some of his most aggressive tariffs is set to expire this week.

President Trump announced Monday his administration would impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from South Korea and Japan beginning Aug. 1 as part of a batch of letters going out to foreign countries.