Japan stocks see longest foreign sell-off in 3 years as US tariffs weigh

April 3 (Reuters) - Foreigners sold Japanese stocks for the ninth straight week through March 29, the longest selling run in three years, amid concerns that U.S. reciprocal tariffs could disrupt exports.

U.S. President Trump announced a higher-than-expected 24% tariff on Japanese goods on Wednesday, while a previously imposed 25% tariff on auto imports will take effect as planned on April 3 in a major blow to the Japanese auto industry.

Foreigners sold Japanese stocks worth 450.4 billion yen ($3.06 billion) on a net basis for the week, according to data from Japan's Ministry of Finance.

In the nine straight weeks of net selling that began on January 26, foreigners have withdrawn 6.47 trillion yen compared with just 3.89 trillion yen worth of total net withdrawals in the week through March 26, 2022, the last nine-week-long selling streak.

The Nikkei tumbled as much as 4.6% to an eight-month low of 34,102.00 on the day, with analysts warning of further pressure as a stronger yen, driven by safe-haven demand, threatened to weigh on exports.

Foreign investors also ditched Japanese bonds in the week ended March 29, as they shed long-term bonds worth 489.7 billion yen and short-term bills of 155.8 billion yen.

Meanwhile, Japanese investors net bought foreign stocks worth 583.2 billion yen, marking the sixth weekly net purchase in seven weeks.

However, they sold foreign debt, for the second successive week, worth about 214.9 billion yen. ($1 = 147.3600 yen)

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy)