Japan plans retaliatory tariffs against U.S., NHK reports

They won't do it. Trump will say "No," and Abe will say "How high?"

how could Japan possibly tariff goods more than they currently do in this ultra-protectionist country?

Abe and Trump are great golf, hamburger buddies...how did this happen? Japan's markets are open aside from some taxes, exclusion of some products, because they are not suited to Japan. ie beef, pork, cars, cheese, rice, vegetables, and just a few others. I'm sure they can work it out on grinder.

Japan's the only "friendly" country that didn't get an exemption. A total backstab.

I say show some balls and smack huge tariffs on US exports.

today an ally, tomorrow an enemy, and vice versa, that's business not personal...you want one-side, you will find more Japan products in the US than you will find US products in Japan...even in the bases, they are carrying more and more Japan local products vs US, yet Japan defense stores sell NO US goods...i.e. foods, drinks, snacks etc...

@bjohnson23, because the world knew japanese has many quality products.

Cant blame if the Japanese’s workers marketing and hard work pays off in sales

One word. ALcoha

The move is likely to be part of efforts to have Washington add Japan to a list of countries exempted from the U.S. tariffs.

Americas move was likely to be part of efforts to have Tokyo add America to a list of countries excempted from Japanese tariffs.

After all "given Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's close ties with the President".

Japan is being pushed into the Chinese sphere of influence. Well, my firm is already in talks with US clients about how to protect our relationship in the face of Trump's thoughtless bully actions, and I bet most other companies are too. Lots of US subsidiaries in Japan could also be ruined by Trump's thoughtless bully actions.

The reason American products don't sell well in japan is not because of tariffs. Its because of lack of effective marketing and the Japanese perception that American products are generally inferior (although not necessarily true).

Japanese has a reputation in American as being protectionist, but its not entirely true. Japan mainly only has tariffs on agricultural, and some food products. Machinery, auto and auto part,..etc has no tariffs but American dont sell well here because people just dont want to buy.

Trump knows this but still blames tariff. He just wants look tough in front of the world. Its all a big show for him

@ Joe you said "its just a big show for him" you got it, Chomsky explains... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQvig0KvUaE

This action reeks of an inability to comprehend how serious America is about ending one-sided trade mercantilism and replacing it with something more sustainable, more attuned to national self interest. Japan vehemently opposes any change to the rules, fearing it would compromise their ability to continue racking up trade surpluses via gaming the system through the thousand and one special exemptions and distortions, and self-deception about being open despite all evidence to the contrary. America has seen the future and has started to awaken to the dangers implicit in the hollowing out of its industrial base and the abrogation of its responsibility to ensure that trade serves the national interest. The Japanese would do well to observe that America’s hard ball tactics are in fact the ultimate compliment, signaling that America has now begun to emulate the thinking which has served Japan so well for so long.

Ban all US beef, soybeans and whiskey in retalliation. Vice PM Aso will be angry now, and crafting a big response.

Yes - if Japan is to add tarrifs - best to do it on goods that come from states that supported Trump.

The "America first" slogan, means to isolate the U.S. from its allies? I don't know how good all this is for America, honestly. Starting potentially a trade war not only with China, but also with E.U.and Japan, doesn't look like a good idea to me. Like someone already said, this will close those Countries to China.

If America exports rice to Japan, maybe Japan could impose a big tax on it - like, as high as 700%. Oh wait, it's already 700%.

I say show some balls and smack huge tariffs on US exports. look I dont support Japans protectionist policies but its time for Japan to man-up like China and the EU , Trumps got to get it through his thick head that any unilateral tariffs on foreign imports wont just be met with complaints but reciprocal actions. When the red states start to scream at their products being targeted America will see that a trade war with the rest of the world will do far more damage than any trade imbalance ever will.

Good for you, Abe! Impose tariffs on US imports and teach the backstabber a lesson.

 The Japanese would do well to observe that America’s hard ball tactics are in fact the ultimate compliment, signaling that America has now begun to emulate the thinking which has served Japan so well for so long.

And I hope American farmers and other workers also recognize it as an ultimate compliment when retaliatory tariffs by Japan, Europe and China start resulting in layoffs and bankruptcies there.

zichi:

Under an enforced WTO order, Japan has imported millions of tons of California short grain rice, the same common rice growth here. The rice is grown by Japanese-Americans.

And rice from other countries like India? I just don't cook Japanese rice. I prefer Basmati, and sometimes I might cook Jasmine or Thai, you know, the type of rice which Japanese don't like and thus shouldn't be of any competition to local rice. But I find it odd that I can buy that sort of rice at less than one-fifth of the prices I see in Japan.

Europe and China start resulting in layoffs and bankruptcies there. lol China laidoff 20 million workers after the last GFC in 2008, what happened politically in China, absolutely nothing. Now imagine if the US lost a quarter of that total as a result of a trade war most likely from red states, what do you think would happen politically to Trump!? When it comes to the political battle, Trumps fighting one he cant win. Chinas long game will win in the end

Stop crying like a baby, Abe. You lost your chance in the past 5 years and now you have to take the consequence. You missed OBOR and AIIB to please Master Obama, but now there is a new sheriff in town. You have already upset Japan's great neighbor, and now you plan to threat Japan's great ally, with $409 million ? What kind of joke is that ? Ya, "Donald and I already had two lunches in one morning". Stop boasting, Abe, it is time to pay for the hamburgs, they aren't cheap.

Sit tight Japan, Donald will be gone in 2 and half years, if not shorter.

Just over a year ago, the posters here believed the US was not a bully, but now their tones seem to change. Not only that the US is looking after their own interests but the commander in chief is also looking after his own. He and his family are making millions in the backdoor deals. So, who do you trust? Your neighbour, China, who is only concerned about trades and economy, or your distant ally who bullies other countries and think of Japan as insignificance? That is “America First,” and we will see more and more of these bullying behaviours by the US. It ignores international rules and laws just to get its own ways. Lies with the straight face at the UN and no more mentioned about human rights when people died in other countries because of its self-interest. So, it is time for Japan to stand up and make a choice whether it wants to be treated as a partner or a servant.

Japan doesn't export many steels to the US compared to the other countries. Japan is also not hurt by Trump's pulling out of Iran deal and his other bully moves. Trump is a bully no doubt, but Japan so far has done a good job at staying outside of his attention.

I'd advise no retaliation, instead, just freeze any trade talks that Trump wants to send him a message.

It ignores international rules and laws just to get its own way

You mean like building ersatz islands to grab the south china sea and ignoring the international law?

zichi:

we buy best Japanese rice for ¥500/kg Basmati can be found for ¥650/kg

https://www.ambikajapan.com

That's my point! My mother back home once bought 20kg for less than double that price.

you will find more Japan products in the US than you will find US products in Japan

Because US products are not easy to see such as weapons, fighter jets, Music copyright, Medicine, Wheat, Fertilizer, etc.

Focus the tariffs on jurisdictions supporting Trump.

He will quickly change his mind or just call the lack of exemption fake news.

Only thing Trump and his minions understand is force.

Putting up import and export tariffs, helps no one, all it does is hurt the general public who buy the finished goods, all it does is increase inflation, and makes your exporting goods more expensive to the global markets, which makes you less competitive, so its a loose loose situation.

Hey Japan - maybe fix your problem with aluminum/steel companies falsifying data (unethical, illegal, dangerous) before worrying about why America doesn't want your lower quality metal.