Japan Won’t ‘Concede Everything’ to U.S. in Trade Talks, Prime Minister Says

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that Japan will not continue conceding to U.S. demands in order to reach a deal on tariffs, as Tokyo looks to schedule the next round of ministerial talks with Washington as early as late next week.

“If Japan concedes everything, we won’t be able to secure our national interest,” Ishiba told parliament. The two countries have concluded initial talks, during which Washington demanded that Japan pay more for stationing American troops, increase purchases of U.S. automobiles, and help reduce the U.S. trade deficit, according to the Asahi Shimbun.