Japan preps for new era in US ties

Tokyo now target of Trump trade turmoil

- RIVER AKIRA DAVIS

Earlier this year, Japan’s relationship with the United States seemed to be on solid footing.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with President Donald Trump at the White House in February and pledged to significantly boost investmentin the United States. The two leaders talked about their “unwavering commitment” to what some US diplomats have called the most important bilateral relationship in the world, barnone.

Those ties appeared to count for something when the Trump administration announced so-called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of trading partners on. April 2. Sure, the 24% rate handed to Japan from the top buyer of its goods was a blow. But Japan was the first major trade partner invited to Washington to negotiate those tariffs away.

Now, Japan is dealing with diplomatic whiplash.

On Monday, Trump delayed until Aug 1 tariffs that were supposed to take effect Wednesday for dozens of countries. Japan was among a subset of countries, along with a neighbour, South Korea, that received letters directing them to change what the White House called unfair trade policies.

The announcement that Japan would be targeted with a new 25% tariff came after a week in which Trump repeatedly lashed out at the country, an ally, for its unwillingness to buy American cars and rice. He characterised Japan as “spoiled” and indicated that a trade deal was unlikely.

On Tuesday, Mr Ishiba said Japanese government officials had engaged