Economics
Japan Wants to Start U.S. Trade Talks Soon as Trump Ups Pressure
- Trump hit out at ‘unfair’ Japan trade in Hanoi comments
- U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer said talks were urgent
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Japan economy minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he wanted to start bilateral trade talks with the U.S. as soon as possible, a day after President Donald Trump turned up tension by complaining about years of “unfair” trade.
Motegi gave no specific date for talks when speaking to reporters in Tokyo Friday. His U.S. counterpart, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, told U.S. lawmakers this week that talks were a matter of urgency because U.S. farmers risk losing market share to Pacific and European nations that have already sealed trade deals with Asia’s second-largest economy. He said he planned to visit Japan in March.