Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hailed U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to lower tariffs on Japanese automobiles, calling it a major step forward in strengthening Japan-U.S. relations. He emphasized that reducing auto tariffs had been his administration’s top priority in negotiations with Washington.
Ishiba revealed he had sent a personal letter to Trump through Japan’s chief negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, inviting the U.S. president to visit Japan. In the letter, he expressed his desire to “build a golden age of Japan-U.S. relations together.”
To support businesses affected by tariff policies, Ishiba said the government has set up special consultation counters nationwide and pledged financial assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises. He stressed that protecting the economy and employment remains a central focus.
The executive order marks a milestone in bilateral trade talks and comes at a politically sensitive moment for Ishiba, who faces internal party criticism following recent election setbacks. However, the prime minister dismissed suggestions that the breakthrough would influence his political future.