'Investment, not tariffs', says Japan PM Ishiba speaking with Donald Trump before 3rd round of talks

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that on Friday he had a formal call with US President Donald Trump regarding the upcoming tariff discussion between both nations. The call, which marked a critical moment in ongoing trade negotiations

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that on Friday he had a formal call with US President Donald Trump regarding the upcoming tariff discussion between both nations. The call, which marked a critical moment in ongoing trade negotiations, was part of Japan’s continued diplomatic engagement with the US on economic matters. Speaking of the interaction, Ishiba confirmed that both leaders agreed upon having a productive discussion and that Japan is committed to maintaining a stable and constructive relationship with the United States.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “Investment, not tariffs.” He further stated that Japan will continue to push Washington to drop all the recent tariffs. At the same time, Ishiba emphasized that Japan stands ready to encourage more Japanese investment in the United States, aiming to create new job opportunities as part of a mutually beneficial economic strategy, reported AP.

This important conversation took place shortly after Ryosei Akazawa, the Minister for Economic Revitalization and Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, departed for Washington. He was heading into the third round of talks with US counterparts aimed at resolving the ongoing tariff dispute. During the first and second rounds of discussions, US officials had rejected Japan's repeated requests for tariff removal, making this third round especially crucial.

Ishiba mentioned he had reiterated to Trump that Japan wanted the US to remove all recent tariffs on imports from Japan, but noted that Trump did not give a specific reply. Despite the lack of a definitive response, Ishiba remained optimistic about the path forward.

Addressing reporters, Ishiba said, “I expressed my expectations for productive discussion to be held, and we agreed.” His remarks reflected cautious optimism and a desire to keep dialogue open.

Currently, the US is imposing a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports, which are Japan’s main export to the US and a vital part of its economic growth strategy. While Trump has relaxed certain tariffs, he has maintained higher duties on steel and aluminum, keeping tensions high between the two economies.

According to Ishiba, Friday's discussion, which was initiated at Trump's request, lasted about 45 minutes. The leaders talked about a wide range of issues beyond trade, including security cooperation between the two long-standing allies. They also discussed President Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East and its implications for regional stability. Ishiba added that both leaders also agreed to meet again during the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada next month, where further dialogue is expected to continue.

(With inputs from AP)

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