U.S. envoy plays down Washington-Tokyo trade row

Japan Times

13 hours ago

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass played down concerns over the U.S.-Japan trade row Friday, but emphasized the need for Tokyo to contribute more on the security front.
Speaking to business leaders and political heavyweights in Tokyo, Glass dismissed concerns that tensions over unilateral U.S. tariffs could lead to a repeat of the trade war between the two countries in the 1980s.
'I know that some of us who would look at our current trade negotiations and see trouble ahead for the great alliance. That can't be further from the truth,' Glass said, adding that the United States and Japan have 'an alliance greater than any one set of trade talks or defense negotiations.'
Glass' remarks came as Japan's chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington for a fifth round of trade talks.
Glass called for further U.S.-Japan cooperation against 'a coercive and corrupt China' as Beijing strengthens ties with Russia, North Korea and Iran, spreading disruption in the region.
While applauding the Self-Defense Forces' launch of its Joint Operations Command in March — as well as Tokyo's commitments to increase defense spending — Glass also echoed the demands made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Japan contribute more to the two countries' security alliance.
In a speech on May 31 outlining U.S. defense strategy in Asia, Hegseth urged America's Asian allies to spend 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, saying that 'it doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies in Asia spend less."
Japan is aiming to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP by fiscal 2027.
'We are prepared to ask our warriors to stand in harm's way, but to do that, we must equip them for that mission,' Glass said, insisting that the codevelopment, production and sustainment of systems and equipment is crucial for the allies.
Glass has been busy since touching down in late April, meeting top officials and business leaders and visiting Japanese cities home to U.S. military bases.
He toured Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture on Wednesday, meeting U.S. and Japanese service members, who he said demonstrated their full commitment to confronting adversaries, namely China.
Glass' antagonistic stance toward China was reminiscent of his predecessor, Rahm Emanuel –– an unexpected approach from an ambassador who was initially expected to act more like a businessman than a political operator.
On Thursday, Glass had a tit-for-tat exchange on X with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao and wrote, 'The United States welcomes students committed to learning and expanding their minds — like all those who fled China for the United States after the Tiananmen Square Massacre.'