A bizarre formula, some strange inclusions and exclusions, and some allies who sought to avoid the tariffs left in the lurch.

President Donald Trump excluded Russia and North Korea from his “Liberation Day” tariffs announcement Wednesday, leaving many wondering why he would discipline allies like the European Union, but not others.

While U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on allies and foes including Europe, India, Japan and China, some of the world's most heavily sanctioned countries - Russia, Belarus, Cuba and North Korea - avoided being singled out for special punitive treatment.

Vietnam's government said on Thursday it would set up a task force and other Southeast Asian nations said they plan to seek talks with Washington as they reel from being hit with some of U.S. President Donald Trump's heftiest tariffs.

Trump increased the blanket tariff on Chinese imports to 54 percent and imposed new duties on major trading partners including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Asia's manufacturing powerhouses were desperately seeking talks with Washington on Thursday after Donald Trump announced 10 percent "reciprocal" tariffs, and even more for some longtime US allies. Those also hit South Korea,