In a recent 25-minute phone conversation, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed to U.S. President Donald Trump his deep disappointment regarding the newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports. Ishiba emphasized that Japan has been the largest investor in the United States for five consecutive years and cautioned that these tariff measures could hinder Japanese companies' ability to invest further in the U.S. economy.

The tariffs in question include a 25% levy on auto imports and a 24% tariff on other Japanese goods. Analysts predict that these duties could reduce Japan's economic growth by up to 0.8%, posing a significant challenge to the nation's export-driven economy.

During their discussion, both leaders agreed to maintain a constructive dialogue and appointed ministers to lead future negotiations on the matter. Despite Ishiba's concerns, President Trump defended the tariffs on his social media platform, describing them as "tough but fair." He criticized Japan's trade practices, highlighting the imbalance in auto and agricultural imports, and noted that Japan does not import U.S. cars while the U.S. imports millions of Japanese vehicles.

In response to the economic impact of these tariffs, the Japanese government plans to provide financial support to domestic industries and implement job protection measures. Prime Minister Ishiba has also expressed readiness to visit the United States for further discussions, emphasizing the need to prepare a well-defined proposal for negotiations.

The global economic community is closely monitoring these developments, as the U.S. tariff policies have already injected turmoil into financial markets worldwide. European Union ministers are convening to form a unified response, while other affected countries are signaling willingness to negotiate to avoid the tariffs.

The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for international trade relations and economic stability in the coming months.