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.
