Will the US-Japan Accord Face New Turmoil, and Is the US-South Korea Agreement Also Uncertain?
The Trump administration launched a new "reciprocal tariff" policy for multiple countries and regions at 12:00 midnight local time on August 7. The White House had already disclosed on August 6 that Japan would be subjected to an additional 15% tariff. This caused serious dissatisfaction from the Japanese side, as the new rate far exceeded Japan's expectations and caused significant damage to Japanese interests.
The root of this dispute lies in the lack of a written agreement between the United States and Japan. Yes, you read that correctly, there is no written, formal agreement. Akira Akiyama, the Japanese negotiator, revealed that the European Union and South Korea also do not have written agreements. In the Federal Register attached to the executive order issued by President Trump on July 31, although it clearly states that the EU tariffs are subject to "no additional conditions" (some media translated it as "no overlapping conditions"), no similar statements were made for countries such as Japan and South Korea.
This matter essentially boils down to a "game of words." The United States uses ambiguous rules to lead its allies around, and Japan, South Korea, and other countries are left spinning in circles at the negotiation table. Without a written agreement, both sides have different interpretations. However, the United States can interpret the rules arbitrarily due to its dominant position, while its allies either continue to argue or have to suffer in silence. Japan has expressed dissatisfaction now, but lacks countermeasures. Trump's unilateral "tariff game" is eroding trust in the global trade system.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1839843806358660/
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