According to foreign media reports, a delegation from the United States and Japan recently started negotiations on tariff issues in Washington, USA. Japanese media reported that there was an internal strife between US officials during the negotiations, resulting in the Japanese personnel being unclear. In the end, the two sides failed to reach an agreement, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's visit to the United States was postponed.
On June 8, Japanese Minister of Economic Regeneration Ryo Akazawa was discussing negotiations with the United States after returning to Japan from the United States. Screenshot of the report of the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK)
Internal strife between US officials
Japan is difficult to judge the intentions of the US
On the 5th local time, Japanese Minister of Economic Regeneration Ryomasa Akazawa led a Japanese delegation to Washington to start a new round of tariff negotiations with the United States. This is the fifth round of negotiations between the two sides.
The so-called "peer-tax" policy implemented by US President Trump after he came to power is also among them. In addition, Trump signed a steel and aluminum tariff policy that came into effect in early June, and Japan was also greatly affected.
In this negotiation, Japan plans to strive to obtain US tariff exemptions by expanding investment in the United States and increasing imports from the United States, etc., and Akasawa stressed that it strongly demanded that the United States adjust a series of tariff policies remain unchanged.
On the other hand, the US's attitude towards Japan's demands is not clear.
The main members of the US negotiations are US Treasury Secretary Becent, Commerce Minister Lutnik and Trade Representative Greer. However, Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao quoted a report from the Nikkei Shimbun on the 6th that a source revealed that the three had an internal strife during the negotiations with the Japanese side.
The source said: "At some point in the negotiations, three cabinet officials stopped discussing with the Japanese side and began to argue in front of their opponents." There were also reports that the three were trying to win credit, and speculated that they were trying to please US President Trump, and the three would sometimes put pressure on the Japanese side to make concessions.
Analysts said that Becent was considered a moderate who was sensitive to market views, while Lutnik's trade stance was regarded as a hardliner, and by contrast, Greer's role seemed to be downplayed.
The report said that such a scene made it difficult for the Japanese side to judge the true intentions of the Trump administration.
Japanese: No agreement was reached on the negotiation
Ishi Pomaki postponed his visit to the United States
The Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) reported that on the afternoon of the 8th local time, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held talks with Akasawa Ryoshi who returned to Japan from Washington at the Prime Minister's residence and listened to relevant reports on the negotiations.
Akasawa said that the current negotiations with the United States have not yet found common ground.
Shiro Ishiba also previously stated that he had not reached an agreement with the United States and said that he would not advance negotiations at the premise of sacrificing national interests.
According to the Japanese Daily News, Shigeru Ishiba originally planned to visit the United States to facilitate an agreement between the leaders within this week. At the same time, Ryo Akasawa is planning to visit the United States again within this week, and related matters are being coordinated.
In addition, Japan and the United States plan to hold the Japan-US summit during the G7 (G7) summit held in Canada on the 15th.
Source: China News Network
