Kathmandu. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Tuesday the establishment of about 1,000 “consultation centers” for businesses affected by the US tariffs. He also pledged to continue efforts to get exemptions from the tariffs.
Tokyo is Washington’s closest economic and strategic ally. Its companies are the largest investors in the United States and about 10 percent of Japanese jobs are linked to the auto sector. Trump said he would announce which countries would be hit with which tariffs on Wednesday.
He has warned that all trading partners are targeted. He also said that on April 3, he would impose a 25 percent tax on all autos not made in the United States. Ishiba did not mention retaliatory tariffs on US imports on Tuesday. But he said he would discuss “the details of countermeasures” with his ruling coalition.
In addition to opening 1,000 consultation desks for now, he said “we will do our best” to help small and medium-sized businesses access funding once the US tariffs take effect. “Japan is the largest investor in the US. With that in mind, we will continue to strongly call for Japan’s exemption,” he told a news conference. “If it is deemed necessary for me to visit (the United States) myself, I will not hesitate to do so.”
On Friday, Prime Minister Ishiba said Trump’s tax ideas were “difficult to understand” after the 25 percent tax on cars and parts was announced. “President Trump is saying there are both friends and enemies, and friends can be more difficult. It’s very difficult to understand,” Isiba told a House Judiciary Committee meeting.
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