Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba with the leaders of six opposition parties and the head of junior coalition partner Komeito at a meeting in the Diet building on July 25 (Takeshi Iwashita)

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said the landmark tariff agreement reached with the United States “protects Japan’s key interests.”

He made the comment after meeting with the head of junior coalition partner Komeito and six opposition party leaders at the Diet building on July 25 to explain details of the accord.

“We achieved an agreement that benefits both Japan and the United States by protecting what we must protect,” Ishiba said at the outset, citing Tokyo’s consistent and strong negotiating position.

Ishiba held meetings with Komeito and the opposition leaders on three occasions during the Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations to hear their views.

He pledged during the latest meeting to take measures to support Japanese businesses that will be affected by the tariffs.

A reciprocal tariff of 15 percent will likely take effect on Aug. 1.

An auto tariff of 25 percent that has already been imposed by the United States will be reduced to 15 percent.

The Trump administration also announced that Japan would invest up to $550 billion (80 trillion yen) in the United States, as well as further open its market to U.S. imports, including rice.

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, seemed perplexed by the agreement, saying he felt “more anxious” than ever.

He asserted that some details of the agreement are still not clear.

According to Tamaki, Ishiba is committed to implementing the agreement reached with U.S. President Donald Trump. Tamaki also said he felt that Ishiba was determined to continue as prime minister.

According to Tomoko Tamura, leader of the Japanese Communist Party, Ishiba stated “I won’t resign” when he stood up after wrapping up the meeting.

Prior to the gathering, Ishiba and other administration officials attended a meeting of the Comprehensive Response Headquarters for U.S. Tariff Measures.

Ishiba directed those present to analyze the impact of the tariffs and set up consultation desks to provide a rapid response to Japanese businesses.

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