Even as Washington ramps up pressure on Japan and South Korea to settle trade disputes with the US, diplomatic observers believe tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are not likely to push its two Asian allies closer to Beijing.

By Jeff Mason and Leika Kihara WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) -Powerhouse Asian economies Japan and South Korea said on Tuesday they would try to negotiate with the U.S. to soften the impact of sharply higher tariffs that President Donald Trump now plans to impose from the start of August.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called off his first visit to Japan and South Korea in early July to "focus on Middle East issues," Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia reported. In response, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said that Rubio's visit to South Korea appears to be "difficult" to arrange in the near future.