ASIA
Ishiba to challenge Trump on auto tariffs, seeking exemption for Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday expressed concern about US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on auto imports, emphasizing his intention to seek exemptions for Japan.
Ishiba told a parliamentary meeting that Japan is “different from other countries because it contributes to job creation and people’s daily lives in the US,” noting that the Asian country has been the largest investor in the US over the past five years.
Ishiba questioned the non-tariff barriers criticized by Trump, saying, “It is strange that consumer safety measures are counted as barriers.”
The prime minister continued: “We will continue to prove the validity of Japan’s positions.”
Regarding Nippon Steel’s plan to acquire United States Steel, Ishiba said he does not believe that the Japanese side’s bottom line will fall even if it changes its plan to invest in the US company instead of buying it outright.
Ishiba also emphasized that the Biden administration’s decision to block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of US Steel was “unjustified political interference.”
