President Donald Trump said he would personally take part in a meeting of Japanese and American business officials on Wednesday, a surprising step that emphasizes his eagerness to oversee his firing of tariffs on global imports.
Tokyo has sent its Minister of Economic Revitalization Ryosei Akazawa to start interviews and expect Trump’s Minister Scott Bessnt in Washington, hoping to limit the scope of discussions to trade and investment matters.
However, Trump weighed early on Wednesday and said it would also be there to cover problems, including the amount that Tokyo pays for the cost of hosting American soldiers in Japan, the largest overseas commitment around the world.
“Japan is coming today to negotiate tariffs, the cost of military support and” business justice “,” he said in a social contribution.
“I will take part in the meeting together with the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Trade. Hopefully, something for Japan and the US can be developed, which is good (great!)!”
Bessnt also wants to discuss the thorny issue of exchange courses with Japan, one of the first countries to launch personal negotiations because Trump announced extensive duties for dozens of countries – a friend and enemy – early this month.
Japan was hit by 24% of export fees to the United States, although these rates, like most Trump’s tariffs, were suspended for 90 days. But 10% of the universal rate remains in the same way as 25% obligation for cars, support of the Japanese export economy.
Bessnt said there was a “advantage of first movement” because Washington said that more than 75 countries demanded conversations. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shiger Ishiba said on Monday that his country, a close ally, will not hurry to reach the agreement and do not plan great concessions.
Meanwhile, Ishiba has ruled out countermeasures to American tariffs.
“It is difficult for the Japanese team that the United States has created a huge amount of leverage for themselves,” said Kurt Tong, a control partner in the Asia group, Washington counseling.
“The US offers that they will not interfere with Japan with sticks, and Japan is stuck in a position to offer a lot of carrots. And in their view it is like economic coercion,” said Tong, former Foreign Ministry official.
Trump has long complained about the US trade deficit with Japan and other countries and said that US companies were disadvantaged by business practices and deliberate efforts of other countries to maintain weak currencies.
Tokyo denies that it manipulates the currency of yen to gain an advantage.
(Tagstotranslate) Donald Trump
