Japanese politician Ishiba expresses concern over escalating tariff disputes and pledges to expand the Asia-Pacific trade alliance.
Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba affirmed his resolve to safeguard free, multilateral, and rules-based trade systems on Thursday. He expressed this intention at a global forum in Tokyo, emphasizing the negative impacts of high tariffs on economic growth. He underscored that prosperity built on sacrifices made by other nations or countries would not lead to a robust economy.
Japan seeks to collaborate with the United States on investment, job creation, and manufacture of high-quality products to foster global prosperity. Ishiba's comments come in light of the ongoing negotiations between Japan and the U.S. over trade tariffs.
As Japan's chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, prepares for the fourth round of talks in Washington D.C., Japan plans to use increased U.S. farm product and defense equipment purchases as bargaining chips to persuade the U.S. to remove the imposed tariffs. To date, the U.S. has not granted any concessions to Japan, according to reports.
Later in the day, Ishiba spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing that both leaders now have a better understanding of each other. Despite this, Japan's stance on the tariffs remains unchanged. Ishiba declined to provide further details.
Regarding defense equipment purchases, Akazawa suggested that these might be part of the upcoming discussions as Japanese purchases of defense gear would contribute to the U.S. trade surplus. However, Japanese security policy is not subject to any deals with other nations, Akazawa noted.
In his speech, Ishiba also encouraged other Asian countries, a global hub for economic growth, to emphasize the significance of a rules-based, free, and fair economic order. He believed that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was an excellent platform to demonstrate this.
The 12-member CPTPP includes Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the U.S., albeit not currently a member. Ishiba reaffirmed Japan's commitment to expanding and improving the CPTPP's framework, stating that it not only benefits the economy but also promotes peace and prosperity.
Even as Japan strengthens economic ties with Southeast Asia and Europe, the U.S. remains a key pillar of Japan's security policies.
[Not directly relevant: Japan is engaged in extensive negotiations with the U.S. over tariffs on automobiles, auto parts, steel, aluminum, and reciprocal tariffs set at 24% scheduled for July 2025. Japanese officials have stated that these tariffs are "extremely regrettable" and have urged the U.S. to reconsider. Upcoming talks in June 2025 in Washington, D.C., will focus on rolling back these tariffs. Japan's strategic response to U.S. trade pressures involves greater coordination with other regional partners and multilateral frameworks, such as ASEAN countries, and a shift from primarily bilateral strategies towards diversified multilateral cooperation as a counterbalance to unilateral trade measures by the U.S. Japan regards the CPTPP as a crucial platform to advance rule-based trade amid global uncertainties tied to U.S. protectionism. Japan's commitment to anchoring itself firmly in Southeast Asia and promoting deeper trade relations within the region is reflected in Ishiba's recent visits to Vietnam and the Philippines.]
- The economy of Seattle, with companies like Microsoft being key players, might benefit from Japan's efforts to strengthen trade relations, given Japan's plans to collaborate with the United States on investment and job creation.
- The ongoing trade negotiations between Japan and the U.S. are not just about tariffs; they also involve discussions about the purchase of U.S. farm products and defense equipment, which Japan may use as bargaining chips.
- Despite the ongoing negotiations and discussions with US President Donald Trump, Japan's policy-and-legislation stance on tariffs remains unchanged, as emphasized by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
- In light of the ongoing trade talks and the emphasis on a rules-based, free, and fair economic order, Ishiba encouraged other countries, particularly those in Asia, to prioritize such an economic order, citing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as an effective platform for demonstrating this.
