June 13, 2025
Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko on June 12 said to Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru that Japan should firmly request the U.S. to withdraw its tariff measure which constitutes a violation of the Japan-U.S. trade agreement.
Tamura made this remark at a meeting which PM Ishiba organized to listen to opinions regarding the Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations from leaders of the ruling and opposition parties in preparation for the planned talks with President Trump. The Ishiba-Trump meeting is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the two-day G7 summit starting on June 15 in Canada.
Tamura demanded that PM Ishiba adopt a stance to seek the withdrawal of the U.S. tariff measure through unified efforts among the international community along with bilateral talks with the U.S. In this regard, she pointed out that ASEAN countries are also facing the U.S. high-tariff policy. She noted that the East Asia Summit (EAS) comprising 18 countries, including ASEAN members, Japan, the U.S., China, and Russia, will be held this summer. She said, “As an EAS participating country, Japan should make the best use of various EAS Cabinet-level meetings as a multilateral forum to pursue the total withdrawal of Trump’s tariffs.”
Tamura noted that Japan was reportedly requested to increase its agricultural imports from the U.S., and said that the government should reject such a request. Furthermore, she brought up the Trump administration’s demand for an increase in Japan’s military spending to 3% of GDP, and added that PM Ishiba, before departing for Canada, should clearly indicate his stance not to meet this outrgeous U.S. demand.
At a press conference after the meeting, Tamura said that it was good for PM Ishiba to set up a meeting to listen party leaders’ opinions regarding the government handling of Trump tariffs. She said that as this issue will highly affect Japan’s economy, it should be discussed in the Diet and in both chambers’ budget committees.
Tamura made this remark at a meeting which PM Ishiba organized to listen to opinions regarding the Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations from leaders of the ruling and opposition parties in preparation for the planned talks with President Trump. The Ishiba-Trump meeting is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the two-day G7 summit starting on June 15 in Canada.
Tamura demanded that PM Ishiba adopt a stance to seek the withdrawal of the U.S. tariff measure through unified efforts among the international community along with bilateral talks with the U.S. In this regard, she pointed out that ASEAN countries are also facing the U.S. high-tariff policy. She noted that the East Asia Summit (EAS) comprising 18 countries, including ASEAN members, Japan, the U.S., China, and Russia, will be held this summer. She said, “As an EAS participating country, Japan should make the best use of various EAS Cabinet-level meetings as a multilateral forum to pursue the total withdrawal of Trump’s tariffs.”
Tamura noted that Japan was reportedly requested to increase its agricultural imports from the U.S., and said that the government should reject such a request. Furthermore, she brought up the Trump administration’s demand for an increase in Japan’s military spending to 3% of GDP, and added that PM Ishiba, before departing for Canada, should clearly indicate his stance not to meet this outrgeous U.S. demand.
At a press conference after the meeting, Tamura said that it was good for PM Ishiba to set up a meeting to listen party leaders’ opinions regarding the government handling of Trump tariffs. She said that as this issue will highly affect Japan’s economy, it should be discussed in the Diet and in both chambers’ budget committees.
