key takeaways
- Initially hailed as a victory for Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, the US-Japan trade agreement has become a source of controversy amidst questions about its terms as well as the absence of a written statement.
- These questions suggest that Japanese distrust of the US will be a persistent factor in the bilateral relationship, and the agreement does not mark the end of Tokyo’s anxiety about the US.
- The doubts about the agreement could also undermine Ishiba’s position as he fights for survival.