key takeaways
- Akazawa Ryōsei, economic revitalization minister and chief trade negotiator, arrived in Washington on Wednesday, 16 April for trade talks that unexpectedly included President Donald Trump as well as leading cabinet members.
- Akazawa was silent about the specific demands from the Trump administration, though the talks were characterized as “tough” and “lively,” and, to Japan’s surprise, also addressed Japan’s host-nation support for US forces in Japan.
- Although the Trump administration has suggested it would like to conclude a deal quickly as a model of an agreement in which a US trading partner accepts more imports from the US and higher trade barriers, more burden sharing on defense, and perhaps also a weaker dollar, the Ishiba government’s domestic interests could complicate negotiations.
Japan Foresight 