Asian shares fell sharply on Thursday, tracking choppy trading on Wall Street and a dip in European stocks as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans and a cautious stance from Federal Reserve policymakers hurt risk sentiment.

The administration's piecemeal approach may be damaging, Fed officials say, as businesses and consumers adjust to an outlook that seems unpredictable.

Federal Reserve policymakers noted the potential for higher tariffs to contribute to inflation remaining above the central bank's 2% target rate in the minutes from their last meeting.