Latest news with #US Japan relations

NHK

2 days ago

Business
NHK

Japan-US trade deal shakes things up

Japan recently signed what US President Donald Trump has called a "massive" trade deal with the United States. NHK World's Inoue Yuki speaks with William Chou at Hudson Institute and Mireya Solis at the Brookings Institution to get their takes on what it all means.

Trump announces trade deal with Japan that would see 15% tariff on all goods

CBC

23-07-2025

Automotive
CBC

Trump announces trade deal with Japan that would see 15% tariff on all goods

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. and Japan have struck a deal that will lower the hefty tariffs Trump had threatened to impose on goods from its Asian ally while extracting commitments for Japan to invest $550 billion US in the United States and open its markets to American goods. The agreement — including a 15 per cent tariff on all imported Japanese goods, down from a proposed 25 per cent — is the most significant of the string of trade deals the White House has reached ahead of an approaching Aug. 1 deadline for higher levies to kick in. "This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Industry and government officials briefed on the agreement said the deal also lowers the tariff to 15 per cent from 25 per cent on Japanese autos, which account for more than a quarter of all the country's exports to the U.S. Trump's announcement followed a meeting with Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, at the White House on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. "#Mission Complete," Akazawa wrote on the social media platform X. North American automakers raise alarm Two-way trade between the two countries totalled nearly $230 billion US in 2024, with Japan running a trade surplus of nearly $70 billion US. Japan is the fifth-largest U.S. trading partner in goods, U.S. Census Bureau data shows. The announcement sent stocks in Japan higher, led by big gains in automakers. Honda, Toyota and Nissan all gained eight per cent or more, and U.S. equity index futures gained ground. The yen strengthened against the American dollar. But U.S. automakers signalled their unhappiness with the deal, raising concerns about a trade regime that could cut tariffs on auto imports from Japan to 15 per cent while leaving tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico at 25 per cent. Matt Blunt, who heads the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents General Motors, Ford and Chrysler-parent company Stellantis, said that "any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no U.S. content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for U.S. industry and U.S. autoworkers." Reuters could not immediately confirm the elements of the deal announced by Trump, and details were scant. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for additional details. Speaking early on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he had received an initial report from his trade negotiator in Washington but declined to comment on the specifics of the negotiation. Ishiba is under intense political pressure in Japan, where the ruling coalition was set back by losing control of the upper house in an election on Sunday. He said he couldn't say how a trade deal would affect his decision on whether to step down from office until he saw the details. Announcement follows Trump pattern Trump's announcement on Tuesday was of a pattern with some previous agreements. He announced the deal on social media shortly after a meeting or a phone call with a foreign official, leaving many key details a mystery — and before the other country issued its own proclamations. Nearly three weeks after Trump announced an agreement with Vietnam — in similar fashion — no formal statement has been released by either country spelling out the particulars of the deal that was ostensibly reached. LNG joint venture Speaking later Tuesday evening at the White House, Trump also expressed fresh optimism that Japan would form a joint venture with the U.S. to support a gas pipeline in Alaska long sought by his administration. "We concluded the one deal ... and now we're going to conclude another one because they're forming a joint venture with us at, in Alaska, as you know, for the LNG," Trump told lawmakers at the White House. "They're all set to make that deal now." Japanese officials had initially doubted the practicality of the project but warmed to it — and a range of other investments dear to Trump — as a potential incentive to resolve trade disputes with Washington. Trump aides are feverishly working to close trade deals ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline that the president has repeatedly pushed back under pressure from markets and intense lobbying by industry. By that date, countries are set to face steep new tariffs beyond those Trump has already imposed since taking office in January. While Trump has said that unilateral letters declaring what rate would be imposed are tantamount to a deal, his team has nonetheless raced to close agreements. Trump has announced framework agreements with Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia and paused a tit-for-tat tariff battle with China, though details are still to be worked out with all of those countries.

US treasury secretary says Japan trade deal ‘remains possible'

Free Malaysia Today

22-07-2025

Business
Free Malaysia Today

US treasury secretary says Japan trade deal ‘remains possible'

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said a 'mutually benefical' trade agreement between the US and Japan was possible. (EPA Images pic) TOKYO : US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that a trade deal with Japan remained possible, following talks in Tokyo ahead of the looming Aug 1 imposition of new tariffs. 'A good deal is more important than a rushed deal, and a mutually beneficial trade agreement between the US and Japan remains within the realm of possibility,' Bessent said on X. 'I look forward to continuing formal talks in the future,' Bessent said following discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa. US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imports of Japanese cars, steel and aluminium earlier this year. Trump sent letters to Japan and a string of other countries earlier this month informing them that higher import tariffs will kick in on Aug 1 unless they reach a deal with the US. For Japanese imports, the additional tariff was set at 25%. It was the second time the US president has set a deadline after he postponed tariffs on almost all countries in April for 90 days. Recent weak export data, including a sharp drop in vehicle exports to the US, raised fears that Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, could tip into a technical recession. Trump this week poured cold water on the prospects of an agreement, saying Japan won't 'open up their country'. Earlier this month, Ishiba, who faces tough upper house elections on Sunday that could end his premiership, said: 'We will not easily compromise.'

Japan, US Can Reach Good Trade Deal, Bessent Tells Ishiba

Bloomberg

18-07-2025

Business
Bloomberg

Japan, US Can Reach Good Trade Deal, Bessent Tells Ishiba

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the two nations could reach a 'good' trade deal while signaling the process may take more time. 'A good deal is more important than a rushed deal,' Bessent said following a meeting with Ishiba in Tokyo. 'A mutually beneficial trade agreement between the United States and Japan remains within the realm of possibility.'

Japan, US Can Reach a Good Trade Deal, Bessent Tells Ishiba