The clock is ticking on South Korea's new president -- even on Day 1
William Pesek is an award-winning Tokyo-based journalist and author of "Japanization: What the World Can Learn from Japan's Lost Decades."
It took Lee Jae-myung three hard-fought runs at the South Korean presidency to finally prevail this week. Yet Lee will quickly find that winning the job was the easy part.
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Japan Times
26 minutes ago
- Japan Times
Japan trade negotiator Akazawa says he made progress in U.S. tariff talks
Japan had made some progress in a fifth round of trade talks with U.S. officials aimed at ending tariffs that are hurting Japan's economy, Tokyo's chief tariff negotiator said. "Tariffs have already been imposed on autos, auto parts, steel and aluminum, and some of them have doubled to 50% along with 10% general tariff. These are causing daily losses to Japan's economy," Ryosei Akazawa, said in Washington on Friday after talks with officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Akazawa declined to say what progress they had made. The latest round of talks may be the last in-person meeting between senior Japanese and U.S. officials before the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit that starts on June 15, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan also faces a 24% tariff rate starting in July unless it can negotiate a deal with Washington. "We want an agreement as soon as possible. The G7 summit is on our radar, and if our leaders meet, we want to show what progress has been made," Akazawa said. "Still we must balance urgency with a need to guard our national interests," he added. Last month, Japan's trade negotiator said U.S. defense equipment purchases, shipbuilding technology collaboration, a revision of automobile import standards and an increase in agricultural imports could be bargaining chips in tariff talks. In a bid to reach an agreement with the U.S., Japan is also proposing a mechanism to reduce the auto tariff rate based on how much countries contribute to the U.S. auto industry, the Asahi newspaper reported Friday. Akazawa said Japan's position has not changed and that the tariffs are not acceptable.
Japan Today
an hour ago
- Japan Today
Court says Trump can bar AP from key White House events for now
President Donald Trump can bar The Associated Press from some White House media events for now, a federal appeals court ruled Friday, pausing a lower court order to give access to the U.S. news agency's journalists. AP journalists and photographers have been barred from the Oval Office and from traveling on Air Force One since mid-February because of the news agency's decision to continue referring to the "Gulf of Mexico" -- and not the "Gulf of America" as decreed by Trump. In April, district court judge Trevor McFadden deemed that move a violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. But on Friday, a panel of judges with the Washington-based federal appeals court ruled that, pending appeal, the government could go ahead and bar AP from "restricted presidential spaces," which it said did not fall under First Amendment protections. "The White House therefore retains discretion to determine, including on the basis of viewpoint, which journalists will be admitted," the ruling said. "Moreover, without a stay, the government will suffer irreparable harm because the injunction impinges on the President's independence and control over his private workspaces," it said. Following the ruling, Trump hailed on his Truth Social platform the "Big WIN over AP today." "They refused to state the facts or the Truth on the GULF OF AMERICA. FAKE NEWS!!!" White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the sentiment, posting to X, "VICTORY! As we've said all along, the Associated Press is not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in other sensitive locations." The AP, a 180-year-old news organization that has long been a pillar of U.S. journalism, has so far refused to backtrack on its decision to continue referring to the "Gulf of Mexico." In its style guide, it highlights that the Gulf of Mexico has "carried that name for more than 400 years" and the agency "will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen." Trump has long had an antagonistic relationship with most mainstream news media, previously describing them as the "enemy of the people." Since his return to the presidency in January, his administration has sought to radically restructure the way the White House is covered, notably by favoring conservative podcasters and influencers. Two weeks after barring the AP, the White House stripped journalists of the nearly century-old power to decide which organization's employees will be members of the daily pool of reporters and photographers covering presidential events. His administration has also pressed to dismantle U.S. government-funded overseas outlets Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, and is seeking to starve National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) of federal funds. © 2025 AFP
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: June 7, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 15 minutes ago - 09:26 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan, U.S. yet to find common ground on tariffs WASHINGTON - Japan and the United States have yet to find common ground on tariff issues but still aim to strike a deal of some sort in mid-June, Japan's chief tariff negotiator said Friday. After holding talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister in charge of economic revitalization, told reporters that he believes "further progress" was made. ---------- Trump says U.S., China tariff teams to meet in London on Monday WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and two other Cabinet members in charge of tariff issues will meet with their Chinese counterparts in London on Monday. The two other U.S. officials who will discuss trade issues with Chinese representatives are Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. ---------- New S. Korea leader, Trump agree to seek "satisfactory" tariff deal SEOUL - New South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed during their first telephone talks on Friday to work toward a "mutually satisfactory" agreement on U.S. tariffs at an early date, South Korea's presidential office said. "Regarding ongoing tariff consultations between the two countries, the presidents agreed to strive for a mutually satisfactory agreement as soon as possible," the office said after their phone talks, adding that the leaders pledged to encourage tangible progress to be achieved in working-level negotiations. ---------- Suzuki halts production of Swift over China's rare earth export curbs TOKYO - Suzuki Motor Corp. has halted production of its flagship Swift compact hatchback due to China's export restrictions on rare-earth elements, sources close to the matter said Friday, marking the first suspension by a Japanese automaker tied to the curbs. The restrictions have caused delays in procuring parts that use rare earths, the sources said. ---------- Court overturns Fukushima crisis damages order against ex-TEPCO execs TOKYO - A Japanese high court on Friday overturned a ruling ordering former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. to pay the utility unprecedented damages for failing to prevent the 2011 crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The Tokyo High Court determined it was difficult for TEPCO's management at the time to foresee the massive tsunami of up to around 15 meters that caused the disaster, revoking the 2022 court decision ordering the former executives to pay around 13 trillion yen ($90 billion) in compensation. ---------- Japan OKs 20 tril. yen plan for disaster resilient infrastructure TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday approved a plan to enhance the disaster resilience of the country's infrastructure over the next five years, with the project expected to cost more than 20 trillion yen ($139 billion). Focusing on measures to address aging infrastructure, the plan specifies 326 measures to be taken by government bodies from fiscal 2026 through 2030, while regional authorities bear part of the costs. ---------- Japan showcases MSDF frigate in Australia amid bid to win contract DARWIN, Australia - Japan's latest Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate made a port call in Darwin, northern Australia, on Thursday for training, as Japan competes with Germany for a contract to build Australia's new-generation fleet. Showcasing the Mogami-class multi-mission frigate Yahagi to the media on Friday, MSDF officials highlighted its advanced stealth features and ability to operate with a smaller crew than the German vessels. ---------- Japan's shogi board game ass'n has 1st female chief TOKYO - Japan's leading shogi organization on Friday picked the first female chief in its 101-year history as part of efforts to encourage more young people, including women, to participate in the traditional Japanese board game. Ichiyo Shimizu, a pro shogi player herself, succeeded Yoshiharu Habu, a 54-year-old master, as president of the Japan Shogi Association for a two-year term. Video: Plum pickling ceremony at World Exposition in Osaka
