讀後心得

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru stated in a program on the 5th that he hopes to have a telephone conversation with U.S. President Trump next week to discuss the new tariff measures from the United States. Ishiba pointed out that they are currently in a coordination phase and emphasized that Japan is the largest investor in the United States, and he will strive to explain Japan's importance to the U.S. economy. He does not intend to impose retaliatory tariffs and calls for the benefits of free trade. Representatives from the Komeito Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party also expressed different views and demands on the issue.

According to reports, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba mentioned on the 5th during a program that regarding the new round of tariffs from the United States, he hopes to have a telephone conversation with the U.S. President next week, showing his willingness to achieve dialogue as soon as possible. The U.S. has announced that it will impose tariffs based on international standards, and the tariff levels other countries impose on the U.S. will affect the U.S.'s countermeasures, while Japan faces an equivalent tariff of 24%.

During the ruling and opposition party leaders' meeting the day before, Shigeru Ishiba emphasized that he is actively seeking to contact the U.S. President and that they are currently in the negotiation stage. Additionally, when asked during the program if he would consider retaliatory tariffs, he stated that while all options are under consideration, mutual tariff imposition would negatively impact the global economy. He pointed out that Japan is still the largest source of investment in the U.S. and has created a significant number of jobs for the U.S., highlighting that the relationship between the two countries is fundamentally different from those that do not invest and do not create jobs.

Shigeru Ishiba expressed hope to complete the telephone conversation next week and mentioned that Trump hopes to promote the revival of American manufacturing, so he plans to clearly explain Japan's significant contributions to the U.S. He also mentioned considering proposing a new investment plan for the U.S. as part of the negotiations with the U.S. Regarding the possibility of a Japan-U.S. telephone conversation, a representative from the Komeito party indicated hopes that the Prime Minister could persuade the U.S. that free trade would be more beneficial to their interests. Meanwhile, a representative from the Constitutional Democratic Party emphasized that the U.S. tariff demands on automobiles should be clearly stated as violating the Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement and advocated for convening the Budget Committee for a special examination of this issue, even suggesting the necessity of a parliamentary resolution.