Tokyo, July 6 – In a time of growing trade tensions, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has made it clear: Japan is not backing down.
Appearing on a national television program Sunday morning, Ishiba spoke candidly to the Japanese people, assuring them that he will not simply give in to pressure from the United States. “We will not easily compromise,” he said. “That’s exactly why the discussions are taking time — and why they’re so challenging.”
At the heart of the tension is a looming tariff deadline. President Donald Trump has threatened to slap Japanese imports with tariffs of up to 35% if a deal isn’t reached by July 9. Earlier this year, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from most countries. Japan, along with a few others, received a temporary pause — a window for negotiations that is now rapidly closing.
Trump has called the current trade relationship with Japan “unfair” and has demanded that Tokyo open its market wider to American products, particularly automobiles and rice. He even mentioned plans to write a letter demanding that Japan “pay a 30 or 35 per cent tariff,” should negotiations stall.
But Japan isn’t staying silent. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief trade envoy, has been in frequent contact with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, holding phone calls just this past Thursday and Saturday. Behind the scenes, both sides are racing against the clock.
On the show, Ishiba defended Japan’s position, pointing out that Japan is no ordinary trading partner. “We are the largest investor in the United States,” he said. “We create more American jobs than any other foreign country. That matters. That should count for something.”
“We’re allies. But being allies doesn’t mean we agree to everything. We have our own responsibilities — to our people, our workers, our economy. And when something’s not fair, we’ll say it out loud.”
When asked about Trump’s upcoming letter, Ishiba didn’t flinch. “We’re preparing for all possible scenarios,” he said calmly. “But let me be clear — we’ll stand firm. We’re ready.”
In a world where trade talks are often conducted behind closed doors, Ishiba’s openness is a rare glimpse into the pressure and complexity of global negotiations — and a strong reminder that diplomacy still demands courage.
