Japan rules out defense deal in return for U.S. tariff easing
Japan has no intention of purchasing defense equipment from the United States in return for the easing of tariff measures, a minister said Friday, in the run-up to a fourth round of bilateral trade talks.
Such a purchase would be "something that should be considered based on what is necessary for the peace of our country," Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said at a press conference, emphasizing that tariff negotiations and security issues are separate matters.
"When buying equipment, we will first study what is appropriate for strengthening our defense capabilities and then decide on the specific model and quantity," he said, adding his ministry will work together with other authorities to tackle tariff-related issues.
Nakatani's remarks came a day after Japan's chief tariff negotiator said purchases of U.S. defense equipment may help reduce the trade deficit, indicating it could be used as a bargaining chip in bilateral talks about the levies.
Akazawa, known as a close aide to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, told reporters in the United States that he will meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the point man for the negotiations, and other senior officials possibly Friday.
Nakatani, meanwhile, is scheduled to talk with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the three-day Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore from Friday, his ministry said.
© KYODO
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
an hour ago
- The Mainichi
Japan's top negotiator arranging more tariff talks in US this week
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's top tariff negotiator is arranging to visit the United States later this week for a fifth round of ministerial-level talks, aiming to reach common ground ahead of a summit between the two countries' leaders eyed for mid-June, a government source said Monday. Ryosei Akazawa, the minister in charge of economic policy, seeks to win concessions over new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump if he makes the trip to Washington from Thursday. It would be his third visit in as many weeks. The talks could broach Trump's recent decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent, effective Wednesday. The new rate was not mentioned in the fourth round of tariff discussions between Akazawa and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held Friday. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump plan to hold talks around the three-day G7 summit scheduled in Canada from June 15.
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Tokyo stocks drop sharply in morning as US tariff concern grows
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks dropped sharply Monday morning on selling spurred by concern about U.S. tariffs after President Donald Trump's decision to double levies on steel and aluminum. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 551.08 points, or 1.45 percent, from Friday to 37,414.02. The broader Topix index was down 27.90 points, or 1.00 percent, at 2,773.67. The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to the lower 143 yen range in Tokyo as the Japanese currency, seen as a safe-haven asset, was bought as worries about U.S.-China trade tensions increased after Trump accused China of violating a trade deal, dealers said. At noon, the dollar fetched 143.52-53 yen compared with 143.98-144.08 yen in New York and 144.03-05 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday. The euro was quoted at $1.1363-1366 and 163.08-14 yen against $1.1344-1354 and 163.38-48 yen in New York and $1.1338-1340 and 163.31-35 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon. Stocks fell as sentiment was dampened after Trump said Friday that he will raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 percent from 25 percent imposed by his administration earlier this year. The Nikkei index lost more than 500 points as heavyweight semiconductor-related issues were sold after declines by their U.S. counterparts late last week.
Japan Today
2 hours ago
- Japan Today
China 'firmly rejects' U.S. claim that it violated tariff deal
Beijing and Washington last month agreed to slash staggeringly high tariffs on each other for 90 days By Matthew WALSH China said Monday it "firmly rejects" U.S. claims that it had violated a sweeping tariffs deal, as tensions between the two economic superpowers showed signs of ratcheting back up. Beijing and Washington last month agreed to slash staggeringly high tariffs on each other for 90 days after talks between top officials in Geneva. But top Washington officials last week accused China of violating the deal, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying Beijing was "slow-rolling" the agreement in comments to "Fox News Sunday". China hit back Monday, saying Washington "has made bogus charges and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts". "China firmly rejects these unreasonable accusations," its commerce ministry said in a statement. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that China had "totally violated" the deal, without providing details. Beijing's commerce ministry said it "has been firm in safeguarding its rights and interests, and sincere in implementing the consensus". It fired back that Washington "has successively introduced a number of discriminatory restrictive measures against China" since the Geneva talks. The ministry cited export controls on artificial intelligence chips, curbs on the sale of chip design software and the revocation of Chinese student visas in the United States. "We urge the U.S. to meet China halfway, immediately correct its wrongful actions, and jointly uphold the consensus from the Geneva trade talks," the ministry said. If not, "China will continue to resolutely take strong measures to uphold its legitimate rights and interests," it added. U.S. officials have said they are frustrated by what they see as Chinese foot-dragging on approving export licenses for rare earths and other elements needed to make cars and chips. But Washington's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent looked to ease the pressure on Sunday, saying the two sides could arrange a call between their respective heads of state to resolve their differences. "I'm confident... this will be ironed out" in a call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Bessent said on CBS's "Face the Nation". He added, however, that China was "withholding some of the products that they agreed to release", including rare earths. On when a Trump-Xi call could take place, Bessent said: "I believe we will see something very soon." China has been less forthcoming, and the commerce ministry's statement on Monday did not mention any planned conversations between the two leaders. The Geneva deal was "an important consensus reached by the two sides on the principle of mutual respect and equality, and its results were hard-won", the ministry said. It warned Washington against "going its own way and continuing to harm China's interests". Global stocks finished mixed on Friday after Trump made his social media post accusing Beijing. © 2025 AFP
