Trump’s red carpet visit gives Japan brief reprieve on trade but pressure remains
Japanese economy minister Toshimitsu Motegi says no timetable has been set for more talks
Tokyo — Japan rolled out the red carpet for US President Donald Trump this week, winning a brief respite in its trade battle with the US, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces pressure to deliver concessions after a summer election. Trump on Tuesday wound up a four-day state visit featuring golf, sumo, a state dinner with Emperor Naruhito and inspections of US and Japanese warships meant to showcase the alliance, but shadowed by a feud over the two-way trade gap. After his Monday summit with Abe, Trump said he expected the allies to be “announcing some things, probably in August, that will be very good for both countries” on trade. On Tuesday, however, Japanese economy minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the US leader’s comment probably reflected his hope for quick progress in the trade talks. “When you look at the exact wording of his comments, you can see that the president was voicing his hopes of swift progress in talks toward something that is mutually beneficial,” Motegi told repor...
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