Japan's Ishiba to press Trump to drop auto tariffs at G7 summit
Shigeru Ishiba heads to Canada on Sunday for trade talks with US President Donald Trump, hoping to persuade him to drop trade tariffs that have imperilled Japan's auto companies and threaten to undermine his fragile government.
The two are expected to meet on the sidelines of a
summit of the Group of Seven nations in Kananaskis, Alberta, for their second in-person encounter. It follows a sixth round of high-level trade talks in Washington on Friday.
Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said he explored the possibility of a deal in detailed meetings with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
'I will make every possible effort to reach an agreement that benefits both Japan and the United States,' Ishiba told reporters before leaving Japan. The timing of his meeting with Trump was still being discussed between the two countries, he added.
The trick for Ishiba, who spoke with Trump by phone on Friday, will be to get the president to drop the 25 per cent tariff he imposed on Japanese cars, as well as a paused 24 per cent across-the-board levy that Trump calls a reciprocal tariff, without making concessions that could hurt the prime minister's public support at home.
Returning to Tokyo with no deal would be better politically than conceding too much, analysts say.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
15-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Japan's Ishiba to press Trump to drop auto tariffs at G7 summit
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba heads to Canada on Sunday for trade talks with US President Donald Trump, hoping to persuade him to drop trade tariffs that have imperilled Japan's auto companies and threaten to undermine his fragile government. The two are expected to meet on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of Seven nations in Kananaskis, Alberta, for their second in-person encounter. It follows a sixth round of high-level trade talks in Washington on Friday. Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said he explored the possibility of a deal in detailed meetings with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. 'I will make every possible effort to reach an agreement that benefits both Japan and the United States,' Ishiba told reporters before leaving Japan. The timing of his meeting with Trump was still being discussed between the two countries, he added. The trick for Ishiba, who spoke with Trump by phone on Friday, will be to get the president to drop the 25 per cent tariff he imposed on Japanese cars, as well as a paused 24 per cent across-the-board levy that Trump calls a reciprocal tariff, without making concessions that could hurt the prime minister's public support at home. Returning to Tokyo with no deal would be better politically than conceding too much, analysts say.
South China Morning Post
12-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Ishiba says won't forgo Japan's interests for quick trade deal with Trump
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he will not rush into a trade deal with the US that would hurt the nation's interests, while an opposition party head said the premier still sees a large gap in stances between the two nations. Ishiba is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven leaders gathering in Canada starting on Sunday, but Ishiba said the time and date for the bilateral has not been set. 'If there's progress before I meet the president, that's in and of itself good,' Ishiba told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday. 'But what's important is to achieve an agreement that's beneficial to both Japan and the US. We will not compromise Japan's interests by prioritising a quick deal.' The prime minister spoke following a gathering with opposition party leaders to discuss US tariffs. After the closed meeting, Japan Innovation Party co-leader Seiji Maehara told the press that Ishiba said there is a large gap in stances between the United States and Japan The coming summit gathering in Canada is viewed as a potential moment for Japan and the US to reach some kind of an agreement after two months of back and forths. Failing to get any kind of deal there could worsen Ishiba's standing ahead of a national election next month as the tariffs threaten to push Japan's economy into a technical recession. Ishiba said he cannot say how far the negotiations have progressed, and that he does not have a timeline for when an agreement may come, Maehara said.
South China Morning Post
10-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Chinese premier urges faster tech applications amid US export controls
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for a push to speed up the application of new advances in science and technology, as the country accelerates efforts to break its dependence on US tech and develop a world-leading industrial base. In a State Council meeting on Monday, Li called the application of new technologies the 'last mile' of innovation, as it links innovation and industry and is important in driving new products and services, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The premier's comments come as China faces a fresh barrage of US export curbs aimed at restricting its access to a string of crucial technologies, including jet engines, chip design software and nuclear power plant components US officials have indicated they are willing to remove these latest restrictions if China allows more rare earth minerals to be exported to America, with top officials from both sides currently locked in a high-stakes round of trade talks in London. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House's National Economic Council, told CNBC that the US expected 'immediately after the handshake, any export controls from the US will be eased, and the rare earths will be released in volume'. But the episode has highlighted the extent to which China still relies on US technology in several strategic fields, despite a concerted government push to boost investment in research and development and become technologically self-reliant At the State Council meeting, Li urged 'further pooling of innovation resources, pushing forward with institutional reforms, and strengthening the links between supply and demand' to deliver more concrete results in turning research into practical applications.
