Japanese lawmakers question lack of details about US-Japan trade deal
Japanese lawmakers are raising concerns over the lack of clarity surrounding the recent US-Japan trade deal announced under President Donald Trump. While the agreement reportedly sets a 15% tariff rate on most Japanese imports,including automobiles and auto parts,the US has yet to provide a formal timeline or written confirmation,leaving details vague and causing confusion. Japanese trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa visited Washington, D.C. to clarify discrepancies, especially over whether the 15% tariff would apply alongside existing duties. both sides agreed it would not, but the White House has yet to confirm this publicly. Japanese officials have expressed frustration wiht Trump’s negotiation style and unilateral tariff decisions, highlighting the difficulty in balancing trade relationships with strong security alliances. The Trump management’s goal of rapidly concluding trade deals, exemplified by its “90 deals in 90 days” push, has also contributed to the hurried and unclear nature of these agreements.
Japanese lawmakers question lack of details about US-Japan trade deal
Lawmakers in Japan are seeking more clarity on the country’s tariff rate under President Donald Trump, which has caused confusion following its trade deal announcement with the United States last month.
The Trump administration previously exempted tariffs on Japanese automobiles and auto parts, with tariffs on car imports coming down from 27.5% to 15%, which is the overall tariff rate on most imports from Japan. However, the U.S. has yet to provide a timeline or written confirmation of the rate, with the deal essentially being a handshake agreement.
This led Japanese trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa to travel to Washington, D.C., this week to clarify a discrepancy from the initial trade deal announcement in July.
Both countries had said Japanese imports would face a 15% tariff. However, Trump’s executive order last week suggested that the tariff would also be applied to existing duties of over 15%, which Japanese negotiators said isn’t the case.
Akazawa announced on Thursday that both sides eventually agreed with Japan’s interpretation, but the White House has not yet released a statement on it.
The confusion has led to frustration from Tokyo, with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba suggesting to lawmakers that Trump “is not a normal person.”
“In negotiations like this, implementation is far more difficult than reaching an agreement,” Ishiba said in a session at the Japanese Parliament this week.
Other lawmakers in Japan have also expressed their irritation over the Trump administration’s tactics.
“I think Japan, South Korea, and other allied countries feel the same — that even toward strong allies, Trump tariffs are imposed without mercy,” Itsunori Onodera, policy chief for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told the Washington Post. “This shows how difficult the U.S. is as a country to understand in terms of balancing its security alliance and trade relationships.”
“Compared to that time [the first term], I feel Trump has become more arrogant. Even just looking at the Trump tariffs, he now imposes U.S. policies more unilaterally,” Onodera said.
NINETY DEALS IN 90 DAYS: TRUMP’S TARIFF PAUSE CLOUDS ‘LIBERATION DAY’ ECONOMIC FORECAST
Trade deals traditionally take months to negotiate, but the Trump administration has been adamant about making “90 deals in 90 days.”
After Trump delayed his April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs less than a week after they were implemented, the administration imposed a 90-day freeze to cap most tariffs at 10% until July 9. The higher April 2 levies were then not implemented until Aug. 7.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
