TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan said Thursday it will respond "appropriately" to planned U.S. auto tariffs, with all options available, calling the latest move by its closest ally "extremely regrettable."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said U.S. moves to restrict trade could have a "large impact on bilateral economic ties, the global economy and the multilateral trading system."

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday an additional 25 percent tariff on auto imports without exceptions. It is feared the hike, which is expected to be implemented on April 3, will disrupt global supply chains and deal a blow to Japanese automakers given their penetration into the U.S. market.

"We must consider steps to respond appropriately. We have all possible options on the table," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a committee session in the House of Councillors.

Given the likely negative economic impact, Japan has asked to be exempted from the auto tariffs. But its efforts to win preferential treatment apparently fell flat.

Shipments of U.S.-bound cars and auto parts made up a big portion of Japan's total exports by value to the world's largest economy in 2024.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Hayashi, the top government spokesman, underlined the "big contributions" that Japanese companies, including automakers, have made to the U.S. economy. Japanese automakers have made direct investments into the United States worth around $61.6 billion and created around 2.3 million jobs, he said.

"It's extremely regrettable" that the United States decided to hike auto tariffs with no exceptions, Hayashi said. "We will carefully examine the impact on Japan and will continue to strongly call for an exemption."

At the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic party, policy chief Itsunori Onodera met with U.S. Charge d'Affaires Joseph Young.

Onodera told Young that Japan needs to negotiate with the United States as the planned tariff hike will have a big negative impact on the Japanese economy. He asked the U.S. envoy to convey that message to the U.S. administration, according to Onodera.