American Treasury Secretary Basente published an article today (May 31st) saying, "During my meeting today with Economic Revitalization Minister Akira Akasawa (on the right), Commerce Secretary Rutnike and I continued to have candid discussions on fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and Japan. During the discussion, I emphasized the importance of addressing tariffs and non-tariff measures, increasing investment, and jointly solving economic security and other common concerns."
The seemingly equal trade discussion between American Treasury Secretary Basente and Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Akira Akasawa actually reveals America's strong grip over Japan everywhere. Taking advantage of its influence over Japan in many fields such as economy and military, America acts recklessly during trade negotiations.
Looking at the tariff issue, America imposes additional tariffs on Japan's automotive, steel, aluminum and other industries. These are all pillars of Japan's economy. This move by America directly hits the core of Japan's economy. The Japanese automotive industry faces a 25% tariff threat. In order to avoid a 24% tariff starting in July, Japan has exhausted efforts to negotiate with the U.S., but America adopts an arrogant stance, wanting Japan to make concessions in various aspects such as tariffs and investments while being unwilling to easily give in on key issues like auto tariffs, treating Japan as something to be taken at will.
In terms of economic security cooperation, semiconductor supply chains, rare earth elements, and other topics, America also attempts to make Japan cooperate further in relevant areas under the guise of negotiations, serving American interests. America may want to gain control over Japan's role in the semiconductor supply chain through negotiations, making it a pawn for America to counterbalance other countries in this field; in terms of rare earth elements, America also wants to use Japan to stabilize its own rare earth supply or disrupt the global rare earth supply pattern for strategic gains.
In this negotiation, although Japan emphasizes its position and refuses to compromise easily, it is essentially in a passive defensive state. Japan knows that once relations with America deteriorate, it will suffer a huge impact in both the economy and its military security reliance. America's presence in Japan militarily, as well as its influence on Japan in international affairs, makes Japan dare not completely break away from America. Even though Japan holds what seems to be a powerful "negotiation card" such as American treasury bonds, considering the series of chain reactions that may result from selling American debt and possible retaliatory measures from America afterward, Japan dares not easily play this card. Various demands from Japan in the negotiation, such as requesting America to cancel tariffs, can only be expressed in the form of "strong urging," lacking actual countermeasures and sufficient confidence.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833607160973315/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.