Japan's Prime Minister urges Trump to choose investment over tariffs

Published on 23/05/2025 - 9:20 GMT+2

“Investment, not tariffs,” Ishiba told reporters aft nan talks. He said Japan’s position to support pushing Washington to driblet each caller tariff measures is unchanged and that he stands by plans to push for Japanese finance to create much jobs successful nan US successful exchange.

The 2 leaders held talks conscionable aft Economic Revitalisation Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's main tariff negotiator, headed to Washington for a 3rd information of talks pinch his US counterparts. In nan earlier rounds of talks, nan US had not agreed to nan Japanese requests.

Ishiba said he reminded Trump that Japan's position was for nan US management to scrap each caller tariffs connected imports from Japan, to which nan US president made nary circumstantial response.

“I expressed my expectations for productive chat to beryllium held, and we agreed,” Ishiba told reporters.

The US is charging a 25% tariff connected imports of autos, a champion of Japan’s waste and acquisition pinch nan US and a cardinal driver of maturation for nan economy. Trump has relaxed immoderate of those tariffs but has kept successful spot higher tariffs connected alloy and aluminum.

Friday's talks were requested by Trump and nan 2 leaders discussed astir 45 minutes connected scope of topics that besides included information practice betwixt nan 2 friends and nan US president’s caller sojourn to nan Middle East, Ishiba said.

He said nan 2 leaders besides agreed to clasp talks erstwhile they some be nan Group of Seven acme successful Canada adjacent month.