Trump and Japan PM discuss tariffs, Israel's attacks against Iran
WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call on Friday in which they discussed tariffs and Israel's attacks against Iran, the Japanese foreign ministry said.
Trump has sought to leverage his tariff threats to strike bilateral trade deals with many countries, including U.S. ally Japan. Japan will remain steadfast in its request for a review of U.S. tariffs and would not accept a partial agreement, Tokyo's chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Friday.
On the diplomatic front, the two leaders agreed remain in close communication on Israel's strikes against Iran that began late on Thursday U.S. time and on Friday Middle East and Asia time.
Japan has condemned Israel's strikes by calling them escalatory while the U.S. has called those a form of "unilateral action" and said Washington was not involved.
"Prime Minister Ishiba reiterated Japan's views on the U.S. tariff measures, taking into account the results of the Japan-U.S. Consultations on the U.S. Tariff Measures to date," the Japanese foreign ministry said.
It added that the two leaders "concurred to accelerate the consultations between the ministers in charge in order to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement."
A White House official confirmed from the U.S. side the call had taken place on Friday.
The Japanese foreign ministry added that the two leaders agreed on the importance of peace and stability in the Middle East.
Trump and Ishiba are expected to meet in Canada on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting next week.
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But it's fair to wonder if their actions so far really match the scale of the promises they made to "rewire" the country, and the ever more fraught situation they face on so many different you hear politicians talk of a time of crisis, you might well ask, which one? BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below. Sign up for the Off Air with Laura K newsletter to get Laura Kuenssberg's expert insight and insider stories every week, emailed directly to you.
