Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday failed to secure a tariff exemption during a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, but the two leaders agreed the issue should be further discussed by their ministers.
Ishiba said he conveyed Japan's serious concern that the "unilateral" imposition of tariffs on Japanese products would hurt investment by Japanese firms, adding that the two nations should pursue broader, mutually beneficial cooperation instead of tariffs.
Trump, who has announced a 24 percent "reciprocal" tariff on Japanese products effective Wednesday, said on his social media that Japan will send "a top team to negotiate" over the issue. He said the United States has been treated "very poorly" on trade in an apparent bid to justify his tariff salvo.
Along with a 25 percent tariff on U.S.-bound Japanese cars already in place, Trump's onslaught of higher duties threatens to deal a debilitating blow to the export-reliant Japanese economy.
Ishiba has taken the view that Japan is facing a "national crisis" and vowed to do whatever his government can to protect the economy, including continuing to urge Trump to rethink the measures.
"I told him that we should explore how we can cooperate broadly in a way that can benefit both nations, including via more investment rather than unilateral tariffs," Ishiba said.
"Both sides will appoint ministers in charge" to continue discussions, he told reporters.
The phone talks came just days after Ishiba said he would seek a call before considering in-person negotiations with Trump to make his case that Japan, a close U.S. ally, should be exempt from tariffs.
Two leaders agreed to continue talking in a "candid and constructive" manner, Ishiba said, reiterating his wish to sit down with Trump "at the appropriate time" in the United States. He declined to specify when.
In parliament earlier in the day, Ishiba ruled out taking the path of a retaliatory tariff, saying that Japan "won't engage in tit-for-tat."
Instead, Japan should make clear to Trump that it has contributed to the U.S. economy by creating jobs and making investments, Ishiba said, adding that his country has not done anything "unfair."
The remark came as Trump argues that the United States has been "ripped off" by its trading partners, as evidenced by massive trade deficits.
"We are considering all options to determine what would be the most effective way" to address the tariff issue, Ishiba told a session of a House of Councillors committee.
Ishiba said that if he has a chance to visit the United States, he would not simply seek exemption from reciprocal tariffs but present a "package" to the Trump administration showing what the close U.S. ally can offer.
Japan negotiated a trade deal with the United States during Trump's first term as president.
Under the pact that entered into force in 2020, Japan lowered its tariffs on farm produce and beef from the United States while it failed to see a cut in U.S. tariffs on Japanese cars and auto parts.
Trump's recent tariff announcements have sent shock waves through global financial markets, sending Japanese stocks tumbling and lifting the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a regular press conference that the Japanese government will "continue to closely monitor economic and financial market developments both at home and abroad with a sense of urgency" and vowed to "do all it can" in terms of economic and fiscal policy management.
Even as Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato called on investors to stay "calm," Japan's Nikkei stock index suffered its third-largest point drop on record on Monday, ending 7.83 percent lower from Friday's close.
Ishiba instructed Kato to closely monitor financial markets and respond appropriately during a rare Sunday gathering of Cabinet members that involved Hayashi and economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa.
So far, Trump appears unfazed by the global stock market rout, telling reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, "I don't want anything to go down, but sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something."
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has introduced various duties, including an additional 25 percent tariff on cars produced outside the United States and 25 percent levies on all steel and aluminum imports.
© KYODO
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change
What a waste of time. Why hurry to give him the attention he graves for?
Japan should take the stance of Europe. Unity in defiance. The pressure is on him rather. Instead, selfish Japan goes to ask for something for only Japan. How pathetic
HopeSpringsEternal
Many countries talking, because everyone realizes that DJT holds the cards, other countries are understanding that free and fair trade means equal tariff and non-tariff barriers. Even Ishiba knows the trade numbers do not lie.
Bret T
I am very pleased with the direction Trump has taken. He now has the attention of all the remora countries who have been clinging to the US taxpayer via trade deficits. Trump knows the US is on the verge of financial problems due to national debt/looming credit limits. This is the "medicine" necessary to prevent a US and global economic meltdown.
The US economy must be strong for other countries to thrive.
Ricky Kaminski13
Whatever happens, keep panicking!
Blacklabel
thats interesting, was told the tariffs only negatively affect Americans as a “tax” on us.
GuruMick
Are many trade deficits caused by consumers deciding to buy a product , eg a car, made in a nation, not USA, that provides a better product at a better price.
Not comparing identical items are we .
Some Japanese products are better than American ones,...people buy more of these....this may cause a trade def
BTW ever seen a Japanese auto making plant , all white uniforms and cohesion , compared one in America. run by Fat Tony
Falco1
We better get rid of these yanks.
HopeSpringsEternal
Important to note in US car market, the company with the 2nd highest US content is HONDA, Tesla being #1
DJT delivering what he promised, LOTS of $incentives to invest and hire in US or treatment exactly like respective trading partners via tariffs in order to access US markets
Given above Auto US 'reality', clearly DJT vision's realistic
Dave Fair
And look where that got Japan, trump thrives on the weakness of others! The problem going forward is trump has destroyed American credibility to the point that no foreign leaders have confidence in making any agreements and shaking the hand of the orange-haired gibbon! World leaders ought to refrain from any contact with Washington and when the phones fall silent trump will get spooked. If that doesn't get him to reverse course he will be forced at some point to rescind all the nonsense when the US economy implodes and the Republicans decide that a enough is enough which should happen sooner than later when their constituents start showing up with pitchforks and nooses.
Blacklabel
“EU offers Trump removal of all industrial tariffs”
“Europe is always ready for a good deal,” says Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
NZ
...and USD rate somehow came back to 147jpy level and going up...
Peter Neil
Good time to run a fake play. Say you’ll build more U.S. factories, Trump can crow, stall and slow roll until he’s gone and the world goes back to normal.
Alan Harrison
Hold firm President Trump. Japan's whole system needs massive re-structure. The ball is in Japan's court.
Blacklabel
i love to be the one to tell you this: but NOW is what normal is gonna look like.
“we aren’t going back”- wasn’t that someone’s slogan?
kurisupisu
So, PM Ishiba has failed to negotiate with the US yet, Vietnam and Taiwan have not failed.
Is the leader of Japanadamp squib?
Maybe he thinks that Japan is more important to the US than the US is to Japan?
Meanwhile tomorrow will be the start of more expensive Japa see products in the US.
Expect the Nikkei to tank further!
Blacklabel
My Nintendo Switch gonna cost 35% more cause Trump tariffed Japan! How dare he! Reeeee!
umm: Nintendo Switch is primarily made in China and Vietnam.
I'veSeenFootage
You mean markets crashing everywhere while Donald pretends to win at golf? Oh yeah, sounds "great".
yakyak
Japan needs a leader that takes a wrecking ball to the way they do things as well.
Japan would be the number 1 economy in the world if all the red tape and dinosaurs were gone.
yakyak
Yep, and after the fireside chat with Ishiba and Trump, the yen will go back up to ¥152
JeffLee
That's not the case anymore. The most American-built car today is a Kia EV. Ford pickup trucks, by contrast, contain parts from around the world. With global supply chains, parts are procured not necessarily because of their origin but because of cost, design, and other considerations.
Michael Machida
Ishiba’s is fine in keeping with speaking with Trump about U.S. tariffs, which shows he’s more into talking things through than going head-to-head.
What do you think could come out of keeping the talks going?
Maybe it’s time we looked at how open conversations like this can actually lead to better deals all around.
Note: I am not for Trump at all. Not in the least. However Japan does not have the cards.
And Japan never said Thank you. Not once.
Say Thank you! Heh, heh...
Mohan
Taking is good - But looks like Trump is not ready to talk about future rather he is determined how to recover the (unfair) past - at least that is what I understand.
For Japan, it is high time to reduce dependency on USA and seek for other trade partners - while continuing talks (not just with USA)
I am sure EU will also try to explore more options to balance their trade.
rainyday
US stock markets losing trillions on a daily basis is what the new normal looks like. Everybody got that?
The_Beagle
Wall Street is crying— but Main Street is dancing.
This is quickly exposing one of the great hypocrisies of the age: the Democrats, long self-branded the “people’s party,” are the ones most hysterical about the stock market. Just as the pandemic revealed their indifference to actual working people, today’s Wall Street freakouts expose where their real loyalties lie.
For 80% of Americans, ‘stock portfolios’ consist of a package of double-stuffed Oreos, a bag of slowly dissolving onions, and whatever else is in the pantry at the moment. So when Democrats cry about “market instability,” they’re not defending the working class. They’re defending fund managers, billionaires, hedge funders, donor classes, and Congressional stock speculators. In other words, their people.
Cephus
That's a good start now iron out the differences and welcome open free trade. Because that's what's friends do.
wallace
Trump stated Japan would be the first country at the tariff-trade negotiating table and the first to get a deal.
HopeSpringsEternal
Better to be at the table than on the menu. DJT doing the world a huge favor, as tariffs and non-tariff barriers like an economic cancer that fuel needless inflation, lost economic growth, political corruption and graft etc.
Ishiba's got no leverage, as Japan been collapsing on all fronts economic for decades, strictly desperation in Tokyo
tamanegi
Buying the dip is a beautiful thing! ¥¥¥¥¥¥
wtfjapan
“EU offers Trump removal of all industrial tariffs”
they offered that weeks ago before Trump started his trade war
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/07/eu-offered-zero-for-zero-deal-to-us-weeks-before-tariff-announcement
Now they preparing their own tariffs on American goods
wtfjapan
and USD rate somehow came back to 147jpy level and going up...
because Japan is now having its own market crash thanks to Trump,
exchnge rates are more closing linked to interest rates, Japan still at .25%
while the US is at 4.5%, now with a recession likely for Japan, and stagflation for the US.
its unlikely Japan will raise interest rates, and unlikley the US will drop theirs
wtfjapan
“we aren’t going back”- wasn’t that someone’s slogan?
well its Trump, recession in 2020, 60% chance of a recession in Q3, so yeah back to crashing markets higher unemployment.
Maga remember this, Bidens economy, record markets, DOW at 45000, unemployment at a record low of 3.4%. inflation was at 2.4% when he left office. Now go check where Trump has put us, bear market, recession likely , with stagflation. Inflation up, unemployment up. 10 of the last 11 recessions have been under a republican president, looks like its going to be 11 of 12
Blacklabel
indeed it is.
Blacklabel
“crashing” UP isn’t it?
thanks Trump!
I'veSeenFootage
But you said Trump was crashing the economy on purpose. If it's already going up again, doesn't that mean his plan failed? I thought we should be rejoicing because we could buy cheap stocks.
wtfjapan
markets havent dropped by this percent points since over 4 days since the great depression.
this crash will forever been know as the Trumpcrash of 2025, cant blame covid on it this time around
NOMINATION
Unfortunately, Japan's interest in your country and your country's culture, food, sports and entertainment is miniscule.
Blacklabel
The Biden crash (-27%) of 2022 lasted the whole year.
couple days is fine.
wtfjapan
The Biden crash (-27%) of 2022 lasted the whole year.
look where he put us after 4 yrs after Trumps last recession
no matter what maga BS you want to spread. Trump has done more damage to the economy in the last 3 months than even he did in 2020, FACT, markets agree with me
chatanista
changeToday 07:08 am JST
What a waste of time. Why hurry to give him the attention he graves for?
What waste of time? I's not about giving Trump is attention but about sending a team to negotiate the best possible outcome for Japan.
Japan should take the stance of Europe. Unity in defiance.
No, it shouldn't.
Instead, selfish Japan goes to ask for something for only Japan. How pathetic.*Uhm, yeah because Japan government,s job is to look after Japan,s interests ( admittedly it looks after J-Inc rather than the average Japanese voter ) not after Europe or anyone else.
wallace
America is no longer a great manufacturing nation and cannot produce all the items it needs including cars.
Five Families
Corrections.
Automotive:
Toyota Motor Corporation:
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.:
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.:
Mazda Motor Corporation:
Electronics & Technology:
Sony Group Corporation:
Panasonic Holdings Corporation:
Canon Inc.:
Hitachi, Ltd.:
Sharp Corporation:
Trading & Conglomerates:
Mitsubishi Corporation:
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.:
Itochu Corporation:
Marubeni Corporation:
Other Notable Companies:
Daikin Industries, Ltd.:
Sumitomo Corporation:
Kobe Steel, Ltd.:
NTT Data:
ENEOS Holdings:
JGC Corporation:
Kubota Corporation:
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT):
Nissin Foods:
Uniqlo (Fast Retailing):
MUFG (Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group):
Nomura Holdings:
SMBC Group:
Japan Post Holdings:
Seven & I Holdings:
AEON:
Ishiba is thier spokesman. The puppet.
These companies have made more money on the American public for decades. Trillioins.
And most have been hit with some sort of scandal. At some point.
With no new tariffs audits or ajustments. Well hate to say it.
America can make its own products, or you can start to pay your fair share. Time for money to start flowing evenly. Fair is fair. No deal Ishiba, lower your tariffs and let Japanese buy our products if they want them for a change. And you know they do. Japanese love American cars. Levis, MK, and tons of other products I do not have time to detail.
No Deal!
I'veSeenFootage
They don't. Japanese people don't want gas-guzzling american cars too big for their roads. Nor do they want American food that makes people fat and unealthy. American immigrants in Japan might want those products. Japanese people do not.
No idea why you would mention Levi's though, which is already widely available everywhere and for a pretty cheap price. Maybe you don't live inJapan so you don't know what you're talking about?
wtfjapan
10trillion gone in 3 days, no crash in history has been this brutal. Its like bear market x 5.
thanks Trump
grc
The ‘delivering what he promised’ argument is very selective and doesn’t hold for all those Trump made pre-election
elephant200
Trump likes watching people begging him for mercy. Just like the Apprentice game show. The players like bragging and begging to avoid being fired.
If Trump willing to exempt some tariffs over Japan, how much might be ? 4% or at most 5% but still almost 20% to pay.
Mr Ishiba, how you are going to explain this to your nation ?
Hideyoshi.N
Hope Ishiba san can make a deal with Trump soon.
Hideyoshi.N
10trillion gone in 3 days, no crash in history has been this brutal. Its like bear market x 5.
Last week was hard but Nikkei is up 6% today. Drop is opportunity to buy.
Japanese people don't want gas-guzzling american cars too big for their roads.
Some young people like US cars but yes they are very big and most Japanese dont find US cars suitable.
Nor do they want American food that makes people fat and unealthy.
This is not true. Many Japanese people like American food and shops like Costco, Mc Donalds, Starbucks are very busy. So you are wrong.
American immigrants in Japan might want those products. Japanese people do not.
You are not Japanese and don't speak for us. Me and all my friends love Costco and Starbucks.
Please dont pretend you speak for Japanese people.
kurisupisu
When it becomes apparent that most Japanese companies make household appliances in China then the Nikkei will tank again
I'veSeenFootage
You are talking about restaurant chains. I am talking about food sold in supermarkets, things that are actually influenced by tariffs and that Japanese people will use in everyday life. Would Japanese people buy american rice over Japanese rice? Or american persimmons? Or american beer instead of Yebisu? No, they really wouldn't. Nobody would. Except dumb americans.
You are not Japanese either.
wallace
There are almost no American food items in our major local stores. Used to be beef and pork but has been replaced with Australian and Canadian. When we shop in Gyumo we don't see many American products. We don't have a Costco.
Nearly all Japanese food items like soy sauce are made from American soybeans.
bass4funk
This is shaping out better than I thought. More work needs to be done.
bass4funk
When I’m in Japan, we see lucky, we can definitely buy American beef locally and at Costco, we some both, but the American selection is larger.
NOMINATION
That is unfortunate. Based on your heavy interest in America, you would be a top consumer.
Some dude
Ishiba needs to take lessons from Xi and stop fawning over the orange lardbucket.
Ah_so
But all the cards say "USA recession" on them.
Ah_so
Blacklabel - it sounds like you have zero understanding of tariffs, just like Trump. Tariffs are a tax on imports, which increases the costs paid by importers which needs to be passed on to consumers.
Likewise, the increase in costs reduces demand which is bad for exporting countries.
Tariffs are bad for everyone.
Who they are worse for will depend on other factors on a product by product basis. For example, it will never be worth moving massively textiles manufacturing to the US, so US consumers will just need to pay more for these products.
Blacklabel
yep that’s what I thought.
so why all these liberals running around claiming it’s just a tax on US consumers and has no impact on anyone else?
so seeing as it is bad for both sides, negotiations can happen to make it fair and more equitable to stop any pain on both sides. That’s great!
lincolnman
Then why did you flip=flop?
Liberals?
Sen Marci Rubio: "A tariff isn't paid by the exporter. China's not going to pay the tariff. The buyer is going to pay the tariff,"
Negotiation? Not what these Trump official said...
Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick: “I don’t think there’s any chance Trump is going to back off his tariff"
Trump Adviser Peter Navarro: “This is not a negotiation"
So, are they lying? Or is this just typical Trump 2.0 dysfunction and chaos?
I'veSeenFootage
I've never seen anyone claim that, but then again you do often debate with the "leftists" that seemingly only exist in your mind.
smithinjapan
China won't back down, Japan won't STOP backing down.
bass4funk
No dysfunction, no chaos, even if one says something a little different, happens in politics since the days of Rome.
wallace
NOMINATION
There are almost no American food items in our major local stores.
Mum's Apple Pie and we eat American soybeans most days. Beef is good. Don't eat cerals except rolled oats. American cuisine can be cooked with ingredients from this country. I'm sure my very large American family enjoy the many cusines that are available. So what items do you recommend?
Blacklabel
oh yeah sure thing. You’ve seen “footage” yet you never seen the thing multiple users been pushing as a narrative for weeks.
Sure.
bass4funk
Neither will Trump.
Why are libs always angry? With all the wealth the have, they should be happy and merry and yet they moan and groan all the time.