Akazawa's dilemma: no tariff deal or a half-baked deal
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Source: Japan Times
Tariff negotiations between Japan and the United States quickly went from fast track and MAGA hat photo ops in the Oval Office to a long game with no end in sight, one that some academics and economic observers see possibly devolving into an unpleasant and unproductive stalemate.
To a certain extent, it all went south when Tokyo realized that the two sides were talking around each other.
Japan wants to negotiate the end to all the new tariffs put into place by U.S. President Donald Trump, including a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% rate on cars, car parts, steel and aluminum. The United States has signaled that it first wants to discuss the higher "reciprocal" tariff — 24% for Japan — and get concessions in exchange for not making that rate effective in July.
The backslapping and bonhomie was well and truly over when it dawned on Japan that this means the U.S. has no intention of seriously talking about duties on automobiles right now.
Read more: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/05/16/economy/tariff-half-baked/?utm_source=pianodnu&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=72&tpcc=dnu&pnespid=5._dkiue4qhi9ks2_w20p6uc6wgcodqkmxeubkihue_vwll9igt_qpsbgcxwardt7pao2kay
Japan owns more US debt than any other country- $1T US. IMO that is the weaponry they need to use in trade negotiations. Anything else and TSF will declare victory and then reneg on any parts of the deal that suit him in the moment.
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