Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Plans US Trip to Negotiate Tariff Deal with Trump

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced plans to visit the United States as soon as possible to present President Donald Trump with a comprehensive deal aimed at resolving the escalating tariff dispute between the two nations, as per Bloomberg.

Speaking in parliament on Monday, Ishiba stated his intention to strongly urge Trump to eliminate the planned 24% tariff on Japanese imports, beginning with a direct phone call to the president.

“We must make it clear that our country is not doing anything unfair,” Ishiba emphasized.

Over the weekend, local media reported that Ishiba indicated Japan’s approach to resolving the tariff crisis could involve proposals related to liquefied natural gas (LNG), automobiles, agriculture, and national security.

“When we negotiate with the US, we want to present a package. That will take some time, but we will make it a success,” Ishiba stated.

Japan is facing a 24% tariff on its exports to the US, set to take effect on April 9, in addition to a 25% tariff on automobiles that is already in place. While policymakers have stated that they are considering all options, there has been no clear indication that Tokyo will take retaliatory measures against the US.

During a summit with Trump in February, Ishiba pledged to increase Japan’s LNG purchases from the US and raise the country’s investments in the US to $1 trillion. Ishiba and other high-ranking officials have consistently highlighted Japan’s position as the largest investor in the US, citing factories built by Japanese automakers that have created jobs for American workers.

Despite these efforts, Japan has not been granted any exemptions from Trump’s tariffs. The ongoing trade crisis is posing a political challenge for Ishiba, whose popularity remains low ahead of a national election this summer.

A poll released on Monday by JNN revealed a 7.8 percentage point decline in Ishiba’s public approval rating from the previous month, dropping to 30.6% – the lowest level since he assumed the role of prime minister last year. The survey also indicated that 57% of respondents believe Japan should retaliate against the US in response to the tariff dispute.