...
By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump said he will attend the meeting with Japanese officials in Washington, DC on Thursday to negotiate on trade and "the cost of military support".
Trump hit Japan with tariffs and has also criticized a security agreement with Tokyo, a key democratic ally in East Asia where the U.S. faces major strategic threats posed by China and North Korea.
"Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and 'TRADE FAIRNESS.'," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Read More on Politics
"I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!"
Why it Matters
The meeting is among the first to take place as Trump seeks to negotiate new trade deals with America's partners during the pause to his "reciprocal" tariffs. A baseline 10 percent tariff remains in place.
Securing these deals with better terms for the U.S. is one of the key tests of his tariff policy. In Japan's case, the deal may also reshape the future of its security relationship with the U.S.
...
What to Know
Japan's chief trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, was headed to Washington on a mission to convince U.S. officials to remove Trump's tariff measures against his country.
Akazawa is to hold his first talks with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through Friday.
"I am prepared for the talks," Akazawa told reporters at Tokyo's Haneda Airport before boarding his flight to Washington. "I will negotiate in order to firmly protect our national interest."
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in his country's parliament on Monday that he is "not of the view that we should make big concessions for the sake of wrapping up negotiations quickly."
In March, Trump questioned a long-standing security treaty that obliges the U.S. to defend Japan if it comes under attack, in exchange for allowing American bases on Japanese soil. Tokyo must also defend the U.S. if it is attacked in a Japanese territory.
"With Japan, we have a deal, which is a very interesting one. And I love Japan. We have a great relationship with Japan," Trump said.
"But we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them but they don't have to protect us. Did you know that? That's the way the deal reads.
"We have to protect Japan—and, by the way, they make a fortune out of us economically. We have to protect Japan, but under no circumstances do they have to protect us."
U.S. goods exports to Japan in 2024 were $79.7 billion, with trade the other way worth $148.2 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $68.5 billion for the U.S.
Trump points to America's trade deficits as evidence of an imbalanced and unfair relationship.
What People Are Saying
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba said on Monday: "In negotiating with the United States, we need to understand what's behind Trump's argument both in terms of the logic and the emotional elements behind his views."
What's Next
The U.S.-Japan meeting will take place on Thursday, April 16.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines