Gearoid Reidy, Columnist

America’s Copy-and-Paste Tariffs Will Rile ‘Mr. Japan’

Trump’s brinkmanship might be setting up another TACO trade. The lasting damage to a vital friendship shouldn't be underestimated.

July 8, 2025 at 2:49 AM UTC

By Gearoid Reidy

Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief.

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is entitled to be furious.
Photographer: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images

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“You will never be disappointed with The United States of America.”

So went President Donald Trump’s sign-off in his letters issued to 14 trading partners on Monday. But in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will be more than disappointed. He’s entitled to be furious.