Asian shares were mixed on Friday after U.S. stocks climbed further into record heights as the clock ticks on President Donald Trump’s July 9 tariff deadline. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% to 39,762.20 after earlier gains,

Trump said Japan’s rate could end up at “30%, 35%,” which would be substantially higher than the 24% initially set when widespread tariffs were announced on April 2.

U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration could start sending letters to trade partners as early as Friday, setting unilateral tariff rates ahead of the July 9 deadline for negotiations. “We’re probably going to be sending some letters out,

South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said on Friday that he might request an extension of the freeze on U.S. tariffs that is set to expire within days when he heads to Washington for talks with U.

South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will leave for the United States on Friday for tariff talks, just days ahead of the July 9 deadline when U.S. tariffs could rise sharply. Yeo said he would consider requesting an extension of the reciprocal tariff pause,

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that the country is working hard to strike a trade deal with the United States on impending tariffs but expressed uncertainty about when talks would be concluded.