Asian shares ended mixed on Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump floated a 25 percent "reciprocal" tariff on European cars and other goods and signaled another month-long extension for looming levies on Canada and Mexico.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that the "big transaction" would be April 2, but the "fentanyl-related" tariffs would be re-evaluated at the end of the 30-day pause on March 4, stoking uncertainty.
China's Shanghai Composite index rose 0.23 percent to 3,388.06 after a choppy session as investors braced for the National People's Congress next week.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 0.29 percent to 23,718.29 as a tech-driven rally took a breather following Nvidia's upbeat earnings forecast and amid concerns over U.S. tariffs on semiconductor chips and key exports.