Tokyo stocks drop in morning on concerns over fresh U.S. trade, tariff issues

TOKYO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo shares retreated Friday morning as global trade and U.S. protectionism concerns grew after U.S. President Donald Trump said that new tariffs on all imports from Mexico could be imposed to try and stop illegal immigration.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 161.77 points, or 0.77 percent, from Thursday to 20,780.76.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 10.3 points, or 0.67 percent, to 1,521.68.

Mining, transportation equipment, and oil and coal product-linked issues comprised those that declined the most by the morning break.