For his first face-to-face talks on tariffs, the president chose Japan, a U.S. ally that decades ago stirred his anger over the unequal balance of trade and his penchant for tariffs.The New York Times reports that President Trump chose Japan for his first face-to-face talks on tariffs, a move that may seem surprising given his past criticism of the country’s trade practices. However, during the announcement of his proposed tariffs, Trump took a moment to fondly remember the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated three years ago. This praise for a fallen friend is unusual coming from a president who has been openly critical of other allies, such as Canada and Europe.
Despite the tariffs, Trump has allowed Japan to be one of the first countries to negotiate for a possible exemption. On Wednesday, a Japanese delegation, including a negotiator handpicked by the current prime minister, met with a U.S. team that included the secretaries of treasury and commerce. Trump even took to social media to express his satisfaction with the progress made during the meeting.
The chief tariff negotiator for Japan, Ryosei Akazawa, was in Washington on Wednesday for the talks. The negotiations are ongoing, and Trump’s decision to meet with the Japanese delegation shows a willingness to work towards a resolution.
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