Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba: Differences Remain, No Rush to Reach Agreement with the United States

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that he would not rush into a trade agreement with the United States that would harm Japan’s interests, while an opposition party leader noted that the Prime Minister still believes there are significant differences between the two countries’ positions. Ishiba is expected to meet with U.S. President Trump during the G7 leaders’ summit in Canada on Sunday, but he said that the time and date for the bilateral talks have not yet been set. “If progress is made before I meet with the President, that in itself would be a good thing,” Ishiba told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday. “But what’s important is to reach an agreement that benefits both Japan and the United States. We will not compromise Japan’s interests for the sake of a quick deal.” The Prime Minister made these remarks after discussing U.S. tariffs with opposition party leaders. After a closed-door meeting, one opposition leader told reporters that Ishiba said there are significant differences between the U.S. and Japan’s positions. Ishiba also stated that he could not comment on the progress of the negotiations, nor is there a timetable for reaching an agreement. (Jin10)