President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime has placed the Jakota Triangle—Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan—in the crosshairs of an escalating global trade war, threatening to undermine crucial export channels for the technology-driven economies.
Trump imposed 24% tariffs on Japan, 25% on South Korea, and 32% on Taiwan, striking at the heart of the region’s export-dependent model. As key U.S. allies and trading partners, the Jakota nations now face the dual challenge of navigating security partnerships with Washington while protecting their economic interests.
The economic consequences could be severe for these trade-dependent nations. Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand rank among the most exposed economies to increased U.S. tariffs due to their high export-to-GDP ratios, while over a quarter of exports from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan are expected to face tariff impacts, according to Nomura.
South Korea appears particularly vulnerable. After Mexico, South Korea is the world’s largest exporter of vehicles to the United States, followed by Japan. Acting President Han Duck-soo has ordered emergency support measures for impacted industries, signaling Seoul’s concerns about potential economic disruption.
Japan’s options remain limited despite its significant trade surplus with the U.S. “Given its strong national security ties with the United States, Japan has no cards to play to win concessions,” noted Takahide Kiuchi, economist at Nomura Research Institute.
Taiwan faces its own predicament, though possibly with less severe consequences for its crown jewel semiconductor industry. Taiwanese Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei previously indicated the island expects only minor impact on semiconductor exports given their technological superiority.
In response to these pressures, the three nations have begun exploring deeper regional cooperation. The trade ministers of Japan, South Korea, and China held their first trilateral economic dialogue in over five years on March 30, agreeing to accelerate discussions on a free trade agreement.
As global markets digest the shockwaves from Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement, these three Asian economic powers face mounting pressure to diversify their export markets and strengthen regional alliances—or risk substantial economic fallout in an increasingly fragmented global trading system.
