Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that Japan and the United States have not yet reached a comprehensive agreement on tariffs and that some disagreements between the two countries remain.
Ishiba emphasized the importance of a trade agreement that would both protect Japan’s national interests and benefit both sides during a press conference following the G7 Leaders’ Summit held in Calgary, Canada, on Tuesday. Ishiba, who attended his first G7 Summit, held talks with US President Donald Trump on Monday regarding tariffs, but the talks did not result in an agreement to lift the 25 percent tariff imposed on Japanese automobile imports. Ishiba said that US customs duties have affected the profits of many companies in the Japanese automobile industry and have had serious consequences for the global economy. “Japan and the US continued sincere discussions, seeking common ground for an agreement until the very last moment,” Ishiba said, adding that there are still some differences of opinion between the two sides. Trump, meanwhile, said in a statement on Tuesday that Japan had taken a “tough” stance in the trade talks. Still, he said there was still a possibility of a trade agreement between Washington and Tokyo. “They are tough, the Japanese are really tough. But ultimately, you have to understand this: We send a letter and say, ‘This is the amount you will pay, or you won’t do business with us.’ But there is a possibility,” he said. Ishiba’s press conference was held in Calgary following the G7 leaders’ summit in the Kananaskis mountain resort in the Canadian Rockies.
