Shigeru Ishiba criticizes the United States: High tariffs cannot bring economic prosperity

According to the Associated Press, on May 29, local time, at the 30th “Future of Asia” International Forum held in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered a speech, vowing that Japan will defend the rules-based free trade system and work to promote the expansion of trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region. It is reported that Shigeru Ishiba’s statement came at a time when the United States’ imposition of tariffs has caused tensions in global trade relations.

In his speech, Shigeru Ishiba criticized the US tariff policy, saying: “High tariffs cannot bring economic prosperity, and prosperity at the expense of others or other countries cannot build a solid economy.” He said that Japan seeks to cooperate with the United States in investment, job creation and high-end manufacturing to promote common prosperity.

The Associated Press pointed out that when Shigeru Ishiba made these remarks, Japan’s chief trade negotiator Ryosama Akasawa will go to Washington, the capital of the United States, for the fourth round of trade negotiations with US officials, trying to persuade the United States to withdraw the recent tariffs on Japanese products. In previous negotiations, the US side did not make substantial concessions. According to reports, Japan is considering increasing purchases of US agricultural products and weapons and equipment as bargaining chips.

On the evening of May 29, Shigeru Ishiba held a telephone conversation with US President Trump. Shigeru Ishiba told reporters that the call gave both sides “a deeper understanding of each other”, but Japan’s position on the tariff issue has not changed.

Ryomasa Akasawa revealed to the media that Japan’s purchase of US weapons and equipment may become an issue in this round of trade negotiations. Although such purchases can improve the US trade deficit with Japan, Ryomasa Akasawa emphasized that Japan’s security policy cannot be a bargaining chip to reach an agreement with other countries.