US Slaps Reciprocal Tariffs on Japan, Citing Non-Tariff Barriers

Washington D.C. - The United States has announced reciprocal tariffs on foreign products, with Japan being one of the top targets. The move is a significant shift in trade policy, and it is expected to have far-reaching implications for both countries.

In January, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a surprise meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, but no major announcements were made about tariffs or other trade agreements. However, just over a week ago, on February 13, Trump announced that the US would impose tariffs on foreign products deemed to be harming American businesses.

The decision has sent shockwaves through Japan's economy, according to officials. A high-ranking aide to Ishiba described the situation as "an emergency situation" facing the national economy. The US claims that non-tariff barriers in other countries are disproportionately hurting American industries and businesses.

The inclusion of non-tariff barriers in a US study on trade practices by trading partners has sparked anxiety among Japan's economic policymakers. One senior administration official noted that the US may continue to impose tariffs as long as its conditions, including getting concessions from Japanese companies, are met.

The automotive sector is particularly concerned, with many fearing that Japan could be targeted next. Trump has long been critical of the ease of exporting vehicles to the United States, and critics argue that Japan's preferential tax treatment on minicars has long been a non-tariff barrier.

Experts warn that if automobiles are indeed targeted, the impact on Japan could be huge. Takahide Kiuchi, an executive economist at Nomura Research Institute Ltd., noted that "if automobiles could also be targeted, the effect on the Japanese economy will be several degrees greater."

Japan may need to revisit its trade policies in light of this new development, with some officials suggesting a wait-and-see approach until the next move by the US government. As one high-ranking ministry official said, "there has not been any specific demand from the US government for eliminating non-tariff barriers."