On May 29, local time, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered a speech at the 30th international forum“The future of Asia” in Tokyo, AP reported, it vowed that Japan would defend the rules-based free trade system and was committed to promoting the expansion of trade agreements in the asia-pacific region. Reported that Shi’s remarks came as the U. S. tariffs triggered tensions in global trade relations.
In his speech, Shih criticised us tariffs, saying: “High tariffs can not bring about economic prosperity, and prosperity at the expense of others or other countries can not build a solid economy.”. He said Japan sought to co-operate with the US in investment, job creation and high-end manufacturing to promote shared prosperity.
The Associated Press pointed out that Shigeru’s remarks came as Japan’s chief trade negotiator Akira Akazawa was on his way to Washington for a fourth round of trade talks with U.S. officials, to try to persuade the US to withdraw its recent tariffs on Japanese products. In previous negotiations, the United States has not made substantive concessions, it is reported that Japan is considering the purchase of U. S. agricultural products and weapons equipment as a bargaining chip.
On the evening of May 29, Shi held a telephone conversation with President Donald Trump. Shigeru told reporters that the call gave the two sides“A deeper understanding of each other,” but that Japan’s position on tariffs had not changed.
Akazawa is revealing to the media that Japan’s purchase of US arms and equipment could become the subject of this round of trade talks. Such purchases would improve the US trade deficit with Japan, but Akazawa is stressing that Japan’s security policies can not be used as a bargaining chip to strike deals with other countries.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiguro delivers a speech at the“Future of Asia” forum in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 29,2010. Photo: Bloomberg