RUBBER-Japan futures fall to near three-week low on US tariff woes

SINGAPORE, April 3 (Reuters) -

• Japanese rubber futures hit a near three-week low on Thursday, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sweeping set of tariffs, dampening the global demand outlook while widening the trade war.

• The Osaka Exchange (OSE) September rubber contract JRUc6, 0#2JRU: was down 1.6%, at 339.3 yen ($2.30) per kg, as of 0221 GMT.

• Earlier in the session, prices hit 338.6 yen, the lowest since March 14.

• The May rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SNRv1 shed 1.6%, to 16,560 yuan ($2,267.41) per metric ton.

• The most active May butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE SHBRv1 fell 0.73%, to 13,625 yuan ($1,865.54) per ton.

• Trump on Wednesday unveiled a 10% minimum tariff on most goods imported to the U.S., with much higher duties on products from dozens of countries, worsening a trade war that threatens to drive up inflation and stall U.S. and worldwide economic growth.

• Chinese imports will be hit with a 34% tariff, bringing the total new levy to 54%, causing Chinese stocks to slump.

• Meanwhile, Trump's 25% auto tariffs, kicking in April 3, will cover hundreds of billions of dollars worth of imports of vehicles and auto parts imports annually.

• Automobile sales could influence the intensity of automobile manufacturing, which involves using rubber-made tyres.

• The yen JPY=EBS strengthened nearly 1% to 147.99 per dollar.

• A stronger currency makes yen-denominated assets less affordable to overseas buyers. FRX/

• Japan's Nikkei .N225 share average slumped to an eight-month low, further weighing on sentiment.

• Still, dry weather in Yunnan has slowed down domestic rubber production, said broker Hexun Futures in a note.

• The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for May delivery STFc1 last traded at 188 U.S. cents per kg, down 2.6%.

($1 = 147.6800 yen)

($1 = 7.3035 Chinese yuan)