Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba explains his phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to reporters in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on April 7. (Hikaru Uchida)

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on April 7 urged U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider the reciprocal tariff imposed on Japan, but the phone call appeared to do nothing to sway the American leader.

After the 25-minute discussion, Ishiba informed reporters that he told Trump, “We’re very concerned that the investment capacities of Japanese companies could be impaired by the U.S. tariff policies.”

Ishiba also said they agreed that both administrations would appoint Cabinet members to continue discussions on trade.

The Japanese prime minister said he would prioritize negotiations between such ministers instead of continuing talks at the top leadership level.

“Of course, I am considering visiting the United States at the most appropriate time to meet with Donald Trump in person,” Ishiba said.

Trump, meanwhile, repeated his dissatisfaction about the trade imbalance between Japan and the United States after the conference call.

On social media, he mentioned that he spoke earlier with Ishiba and said that Japan is sending a top team to negotiate on trade.

He continued that Japan has “treated the U.S. very poorly on Trade. They don’t take our cars, but we take MILLIONS of theirs. Likewise Agriculture, and many other ‘things.’”

(This article was written by Taro Kotegawa in Tokyo and Ken Sakakibara in Washington.)

Related News