Trump’s tough stance on Japan

According to Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, US President Trump said on June 29 local time that he was not prepared to reduce the 25% additional tariffs imposed on Japanese cars. Auto tariffs are the focus of US-Japan tariff negotiations, and Japan has repeatedly asked the US to reduce tariffs on Japanese cars.

Japanese Minister of Economic Revitalization Ryomasa Akasawa, who is in charge of the negotiations, visited the United States for the seventh time on the 26th, but this time he was unable to meet with US Treasury Secretary Bensont even though he extended his trip.

According to reports, Trump said on Fox News’ TV program on June 29, local time, “Japan does not import American cars, but the United States has imported millions of Japanese cars. This is unfair. This has been explained to Japan, and they have also realized it.” Regarding the negotiation deadline, Trump also said, “A letter will be sent, and the trade negotiations will be over… You can send a letter to Japan: ‘Dear Japan, Japanese cars will be subject to a 25% tariff.'”

Japan’s Tokyo Broadcasting Corporation reported that Japan’s Minister of Economic Revitalization Ryomasa Akasawa visited the United States for the seventh time on the 26th to launch a new round of negotiations on tariffs. He originally planned to return to the country on the 28th, but there was a problem with the meeting arrangement with US Treasury Secretary Benson. In order to meet Benson, Akasawa Ryomasa extended his trip to stay in Washington, but ultimately failed to meet Benson and will return to Japan on the 30th.

In the tariff negotiations with the United States, Japan has repeatedly asked the United States to lower tariffs on Japanese cars. Before leaving for Washington on the 26th, Ryomasa Akasawa made it clear to reporters, “No matter what, we cannot accept a 25% auto tariff.” Japan’s Kyodo News Agency stated that Trump’s remarks showed that auto tariffs have become an obstacle to negotiations and that US-Japan tariff negotiations are in trouble.