US President Donald Trump directly intervened in the trade talks with Japanese officials on Wednesday, indicating that much is at stake for the US after their tariffs shook the economy and the government had to reassure the public that a quick agreement would be reached. The Republican president was joined by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, two high-ranking economic advisors who play a central role in his trade and customs policy. “Hopefully, something can be worked out that is great for Japan and the USA!” Trump wrote in a social media post before the meeting. Afterward, he tweeted, “Great honor, just met with the Japanese delegation on trade. Big progress!” The Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Thursday to reporters in Tokyo that his chief negotiator for trade issues, Ryosei Akazawa, reported to him from Washington that the talks had been “very open and constructive.” However, the talks did not run smoothly. Japan’s chief negotiator for trade issues will leave Washington without an immediate agreement after meeting with Trump to negotiate the abolition of the strict US tariffs, reported the Financial Times. Akazawa told reporters after the talks that both sides had agreed to hold a second meeting this month and to strive for a quick solution. He described the tariffs as “extremely regrettable” and urged the White House to strive for an agreement that would strengthen both economies. Trump’s decision to intervene directly in the negotiations suggests that he wants to conclude a whole series of trade agreements quickly while China is pursuing its own agreements. It is an open test for Trump’s reputation as a negotiator as countries around the world are trying to limit the potential damage caused by his import tariffs. The comprehensive tariffs that Trump announced on April 2 caused panic on the financial markets and stoked recession fears. The US president subsequently called for a partial 90-day suspension of import duties and increased the already high tariffs on China to up to 145 percent. Meanwhile, the US economic rival China is trying to take advantage of the turmoil caused by Trump’s announcements. President Xi Jinping is traveling through Southeast Asian countries and is promoting his country as a reliable trading partner. Japan is among the first countries to initiate open talks with the US. According to Trump and other government officials, the phones are ringing for dozens of countries that want to conclude an agreement with a president who sees himself as a master negotiator to avoid tariffs when the 90-day trade pause ends. Israel and Vietnam have offered to set their tariffs to zero, but Trump has not commented on whether this would be enough. The head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, said on Wednesday that Trump’s tariff policy would harm the US economy. This is a direct warning to the White House, which is trying to sell the import tariffs as ultimately positive for the country.
Trump Intervenes Directly
