Ishiba Warns Against Tariff Tensions, Pledges to Expand Asia-Pacific Trade Bloc

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated Japan’s commitment to rules-based, multilateral trade and pledged to work on expanding Asia-Pacific economic ties amid growing trade tensions, Associated Press reporters Ayaka McGill and Mari Yamaguchi reported.

Ishiba emphasized Japan’s intent to collaborate with the U.S. on investment, job creation, and manufacturing of high-quality products to benefit both nations and the world. I Photo: Ogiyoshisan Wiki

“High tariffs will not bring economic prosperity,” Ishiba said at a global forum in Tokyo. “A prosperity built on sacrifices by someone or another country will not make a strong economy.”

He emphasized Japan’s intent to collaborate with the U.S. on investment, job creation, and manufacturing of high-quality products to benefit both nations and the world.

Ishiba’s remarks come as Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, heads to Washington, D.C., for a fourth round of talks aimed at reversing recent U.S. tariff measures.

So far, Japan has failed to win concessions, and officials are considering additional purchases of U.S. farm goods and defense equipment as potential bargaining tools. Later that day, Ishiba held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming negotiations.