Gabriele Ninivaggi

2 months ago | japantimes.co.jp | Francis Tang |Gabriele Ninivaggi

Japan and the United States have appointed their leads for tariff negotiations, taking the first step in deescalating and resolving a trade war that has unsettled the financial markets and threatens the global economy. Ryosei Akazawa, minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, will spearhead talks with the U.S., Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Tuesday after the first meeting of a government task force on the tariffs.

2 months ago | japantimes.co.jp | Francis Tang |Gabriele Ninivaggi

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday night from Tokyo to discuss tariffs that have unsettled the markets and are forecast to cause significant economic damage globally. The call was the first interaction between the two leaders since the U.S. president fired the first volley in what is quickly shaping up to be a full-scale trade war when he rolled out new tariffs targeting almost every country on the planet.

2 months ago | japantimes.co.jp | Francis Tang |Gabriele Ninivaggi

Japan is pulling out all the stops to counter the effects of new U.S. tariffs and support affected industries, with the prime minister vowing to "unite the entire country" in response to what he calls a "national crisis."”We must call this a national crisis,” Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told the Lower House on Friday morning.

2 months ago | japantimes.co.jp | Gabriel Dominguez |Gabriele Ninivaggi

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrapped up a four-day state visit to Japan on Thursday that saw Tokyo and Brasilia take their strategic partnership to new heights, with a five-year action plan and a flurry of agreements across a range of areas, including trade, security and green energy.

Feb 5, 2025 | japantimes.co.jp | Francis Tang |Gabriele Ninivaggi

Japan remains noncommittal — at least for now — over the United States’ renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” avoiding taking sides in what has become a politically sensitive issue. Responding to questions during a Wednesday news conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the government will continue to monitor related developments, but avoided confirming which name it will actually follow.