President Trump has signaled a possible delay to auto tariffs, adding to market relief after suspending levies on some consumer tech, even as he insists there are "no exceptions" and forges ahead with plans for new tariffs on the pharmaceutical and chip sectors.

President Donald Trump touted "big progress" in tariff talks with Japan on Wednesday, in one of the first rounds of face-to-face negotiations since his barrage of duties on global imports roiled markets and stoked recession fears.