TOKYO (AFP) – Japan will set up around 1,000 “consultation centres” for businesses hit by United States (US) President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said yesterday as he vowed to keep pushing to secure an exemption from the levies.
Tokyo is one of Washington’s closest economic and strategic allies, with its firms the biggest investors in the US and around one in 10 Japanese jobs tied to the auto sector.
Trump said he will announce today which tariffs will be imposed on which countries, warning that all trading partners are in the firing line.
He has also said markets will see 25 per cent duties imposed on all autos not made in the US.
Ishiba was tight-lipped about imposing tariffs on US imports but said he will discuss “details on responsive measures” with his ruling coalition.
For now, aside from opening the 1,000 consultation decks, he said “we will do everything we can” to help small and mid-sized businesses procure funds after the US tariffs are activated. “Japan is the biggest investor for the United States. With this in mind, we will continue to strongly call for Japan’s exemption,” he told a news conference.
“If it’s deemed necessary for me to pay a visit to the (United States) myself, then I won’t hesitate to do so.”
The prime minister said Trump’s views on tariffs were “difficult to understand” after the 25 per cent duties on cars and parts were announced.
“What President Trump is saying is that there are both friends and foes and friends can be more difficult. This is very difficult to understand,” Ishiba said during a legislative committee session.
