Japan Navigates US-China Trade Tensions with High-Level Delegation to Beijing

As trade friction between the United States and China intensifies, Japan is taking a proactive approach to maintain a balanced relationship with both economic powerhouses, as per Bloomberg.

A high-level Japanese delegation, led by Tetsuo Saito, the chief of the ruling party’s junior coalition partner Komeito, will travel to Beijing this week carrying a personal letter from Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The three-day visit, beginning Tuesday, will see Saito meet with Liu Jianchao, the head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, and other key Chinese officials.

This gesture highlights Japan’s delicate balancing act in managing its relationships with China, its largest trading partner, and with the US, its sole formal security ally. The visit comes as Japan is also engaged in official trade negotiations with Washington, seeking an exemption from sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this month.

China, which accounts for approximately 20% of Japan’s trade, has reportedly cautioned countries against entering into deals with the US that could potentially undermine Beijing’s interests. Recent reports suggest that Washington is seeking commitments from its allies to curb trade with China as part of the ongoing tariff negotiations.

When questioned about China’s warning on Tuesday, Japan’s top government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, avoided a direct response, instead emphasizing that the tariff issue remains a top priority for the Japanese government.

Beyond the broader trade landscape, Japan also faces several bilateral disputes with China. These include Beijing’s continued ban on seafood exports from Japan, implemented in response to Tokyo’s release of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean.

Despite an agreement reached in 2024 to take steps towards restarting exports, China has yet to officially lift the ban, citing the need for additional testing. A second round of testing involving Chinese participation took place last week.

Saito indicated that the issue of seafood, as well as a separate ban on beef imports into China from Japan, are likely to be raised during his meetings, which he described as focused on building trust between the two nations.

When pressed on the possibility of China making demands as trade negotiations between Japan and the US commence, Saito remained noncommittal, stating that he will “explain Japan’s position on various issues.”

In addition to trade concerns, the US has been actively encouraging Japan to limit exports of machinery used in the production of semiconductors and other advanced technology equipment, further complicating the dynamic between the three countries.