As he launched an unplanned salvo at a crucial ally, President Donald Trump said that Japan derives “a fortune” from the United States’ economic support and is not obligated to defend it militarily.
It coincided with Japan’s trade minister planning a visit to Washington, where he is allegedly going to ask for a reprieve from impending steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the US.
“We have a great relationship with Japan. But we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don’t have to protect us,” Trump said Thursday.
“And by the way, they make a fortune with us economically,” he said. “I actually ask, who makes these deals?”
Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi responded on Friday, saying that Japan has faith in Washington to uphold its end of the security treaty between the two nations.
The majority of the approximately 54,000 US military soldiers stationed in Japan are located in the Okinawa zone, which is east of Taiwan.
Yoji Muto, the minister of commerce, industry, and the economy of Tokyo, expressed his hope to reporters that his visit to the US would “be a win-win for both Japanese and US national interests.”
He stated that the visit was being planned and refuted allegations that he would pressure US authorities to exempt Japan from taxes or the dates of March 9–13 that were provided by Japanese media.
According to Trump, all steel and aluminum would be subject to a 25 percent tariff starting on Wednesday of next week.
“It is important to closely study the specific content of these (tariff) measures and their impact,” Muto stated on Friday.
Additionally, he criticized Trump’s declaration that Japan was one of the nations seeking to spend trillions of dollars in an Alaskan “gigantic” natural gas pipeline.
“This is an issue that the government and the private sector need to study, in terms of profitability and when supply will begin,” Muto said.
“I hope to hear more details on this project” from US officials, he added.
Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs of around 25 percent on auto imports. Vehicles represented nearly a third of all Japan’s exports to the United States last year.
Without referring to Muto’s planned visit, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told parliament on Wednesday that Japan’s “contribution to the US economy is significant.”
“So we want to appeal resolutely, with emotion and logic,” to Washington on the tariffs, he said.
Touted as an opportunity to advance free trade and strengthen corporate connections, Muto and Japan’s foreign minister will meet with their British counterparts in Tokyo on Friday to discuss economic security.
