Japan silent on Trump tariff threat, vows ‘sincere’ trade talks
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US President Donald Trump (right) and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holding a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, on Feb 7.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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TOKYO - Japan’s government on July 2 declined to comment on US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose even higher tariffs on Japanese products, saying it would pursue “sincere” bilateral talks.
Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said Japan seeks a mutually beneficial deal with the United States through ongoing negotiations.
Mr Trump on July 1 threatened to hike tariffs on Japan to 30 per cent or 35 per cent
His comment came as rounds of ministerial negotiations between the two countries have so far failed to yield an agreement. Mr Trump also expressed frustration over US exports of cars and rice to Japan
“We are aware of what President Trump said, but we don’t comment on every remark made by US government officials,” Mr Aoki said.
“We intend to advance bilateral talks in a sincere and faithful manner toward reaching an agreement that will benefit both Japan and the United States,” he also said.
The United States has slapped tariffs on a variety of products, from cars and auto parts to steel and aluminium. Despite the three-month pause on the reciprocal tariffs, a baseline duty of 10 per cent is already in place.
Of the higher duties imposed on US-bound shipments, a 25 per cent import tax on cars is a severe blow to the likes of Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co, given the importance of the US market to their bottom lines.
Mr Trump has turned to tariffs in a bid to reduce his country’s massive trade deficit with Japan. When Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with the US leader in mid-June, they failed to strike a deal due to persisting differences.
Japan has been urging the United States to rethink its tariff measures and reach a mutually beneficial deal that would likely involve more Japanese investment, but its efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
“I’m not sure we’re going to make a deal. I doubt it,” Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, labelling Japan “very tough” and “very spoilt”. KYODO NEWS
