WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump will be joined by some of his top economic advisers on Wednesday for negotiations with Japan over tariffs, trade and military support.
“Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and ‘TRADE FAIRNESS,'” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”
Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, will hold his first talks with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through Friday.
The meeting comes after Trump put a 90-day pause on global tariffs but left the steep taxes in place for China.
However, a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. remain in place.
As countries scramble to respond to the tariffs, Japan is among the first countries to start negotiations with the U.S., as Trump and other administration officials have said the phones have been “ringing off the hook” with dozens of countries eager to strike deals.
Government officials have been tight-lipped about what concessions it might offer during the talks.
Trump said he also wants to discuss U.S. military support for Japan, or how much the Japanese contribute to the cost of American troops stationed there, largely as a deterrent to China.
The president’s demand for more defense spending concerns the Japanese.
Under its national security strategy, Japan aims to double annual defense spending to nearly $10 trillion, or 2% of GDP, in 2027, while there is a concern that Trump may ask for that to be increased to 3% of GDP. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday that the military budget for this year is about 1.8% of Japan’s GDP.
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
AloJapan.com