Source: Global Times
[Global Times Report by Reporter Zhang Qian] According to a report by Bloomberg on the 24th, multiple current and former Japanese government officials revealed that in view of the importance of Sino-Japanese trade relations, Japan plans to resist any attempt by the U.S. to include it in a so-called "anti-China economic alliance".
File photo of a port in Tokyo, Japan. Photo source: foreign media.
Bloomberg reported that like some other countries, Japan is trying to address the U.S. concerns in areas such as automobiles and agriculture in the U.S.-Japan bilateral trade to seek permanent exemptions from the Trump administration's tariff policies. The anonymous officials said that Japan is striving to reach an agreement with the U.S. before the 90-day tariff suspension period ends. Some of them also mentioned that Japan hopes to finalize the agreement around the G7 summit in June.
However, Bloomberg noted that these officials also said that Japan is unwilling to weaken its economic and trade ties with China due to U.S. pressure. Because China is not only Japan's largest trading partner but also an important source of goods and raw materials for Japan. Although the U.S. has not yet made specific demands to Japan, the officials said that if such a situation arises, Japan will prioritize its own interests.
The report continued, with one official adding that Japan has repeatedly told China that its stance on chip-related exports and semiconductor restrictions does not fully align with that of the U.S.
"If Japan's trade with both China and the U.S. declines, it would be very, very bad for Japan," said Professor Tomoyasu Uchiyama of the University of Tokyo. "If policymakers suggest 'abandoning China,' businesspeople would naturally oppose."
Bloomberg reported that the Japanese Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to the above issues. The report stated that currently, several Japanese delegations are visiting or planning visits to China to maintain Sino-Japanese relations.
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