Japanese PM Ishiba warns against tension over tariffs, vows to expand Asia-Pacific trade group

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed determination Thursday to defend rules-based, free and multilateral trade systems and work on expanding the main Asia-Pacific trade group at a time of tension over US tariffs.

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“High tariffs will not bring economic prosperity," Ishiba told a global forum in Tokyo. “A prosperity built on sacrifices by someone or another country will not make a strong economy.”

Japan seeks to work with the US on investment, job creation and manufacturing high quality products for the prosperity of America and the rest of the world, he said.

His comment comes as Japan's chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa travels to Washington, DC, for a fourth round of talks aiming to convince the US to drop all recent tariff measures.