According to President Donald Trump, Japan, one of the US’s biggest trading partners, has agreed to a “massive” trade agreement with the US. According to Trump’s social media post, the idea would result in Japan investing $550 billion (£407 billion) in America and US imports from the Asian nation being subject to a 15% levy.
Key Highlights of the U.S.–Japan Agreement
He went on to say that Japan will allow American products, such as rice, trucks, vehicles, and some agricultural products, to enter its economy. Shigeru Ishiba, the prime minister of Japan, praised the announcement, stating that it was the lowest number among nations having trade surpluses with the US to date.
Tariff Reductions on US Autos and Agricultural Exports
At a White House event on July 22, Trump boasted that he had recently struck what he believes to be the biggest trade agreement ever with Japan. He went on to say that the squad had put in a lot of time and effort on it, and that Japan has its best personnel here. And it’s a fantastic bargain for all. “I constantly stress that it must be fantastic for everyone.
“It’s a fantastic deal,” Trump said. In an interview with reporters on July 23, Ishiba stated that the deal would reduce US car and part tariffs from 25% to 15%. “We were the first in the world to reduce tariffs on cars and auto parts without any quantity restrictions,” he stated. “The agreement does not include any reduction of tariffs on the Japanese side,” Ishiba stated.
Japan’s Billion Dollar Investment Commitment
Shigeto Nagai of Oxford Economics, a research firm, told BBC News that Japan’s “best compromise at this stage” is to lower its main tariff rate to 15%. The announcement’s mention of Japan’s planned investment in the US “will be a huge boost to restore the US, fitting in with Trump’s story of reviving US manufacturing with more jobs,” he continued.
Political Context in Japan Following the Deal
This month, Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Japan’s exports to the United States unless a new trade agreement was reached by August 1. This was one percentage point higher than the 24% rate that was announced during his so-called Liberation Day on April 2.
Following global market turbulence, the April tariffs plan—which included levies on numerous US trading partners worldwide—was put on hold for ninety days. It gave the trade delegates from Tokyo more time to engage in talks with their Washington colleagues.
Market Reaction: Japan’s Stock Surge
The Nikkei 225, Japan’s benchmark stock index, rose more than 3% on 23 July in Tokyo, driven primarily by advances in shares of the country’s largest automakers, such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. The alleged agreement comes as Ishiba faces pressure to resign following the weekend elections that cost his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) the majority in the nation’s upper house. Last year, the LDP lost its majority in Japan’s lower house, which has more influence.
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