Asian stocks see their worst drop in decades after Trump tariffs

Asian markets from Tokyo to Sydney plunged amid increasing fears of a global economic downturn.

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The Shanghai Composite was down more than 8% at one point, Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped more than 13% and Japan's Nikkei 225 closed down by 7.8% - moves that one analyst described to the BBC as a "bloodbath".

European markets too fell in early trading, with banks and defence firms seeing the biggest drops. This follows global slumps last week after Trump announced new tariffs between 10% and 46% on most countries.

This is a blow for Asia's manufacturing hubs that count the US as a key market for exports ranging from clothes to cars.

These include wealthy allies like Japan and South Korea, which face 26% tariffs, as well as developing countries like Vietnam that are bracing for a 46% levy - Trump called the fast-growing economy one of the "worst offenders".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c934qzd094wo

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