U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff delay provided some hope to major trade partners Japan, South Korea and the European Union that deals to ease duties could still be reached, while bewildering some smaller exporters such as South Africa and leaving companies with no clarity on the path forward.

U.S. trading partners are weighing responses after President Donald Trump’s latest action on tariffs sparked a stock market selloff Monday. The White House sent letters yesterday to about a dozen countries laying out the rates at which imports would be taxed—ranging from 25% to 40%—if no other trade agreements are reached.

New vehicles from the Japanese auto makers Subaru and Honda are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, as trade tensions escalate after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on goods from Japan and South Korea starting on August 1,