Japan ‘deeply concerned’ at global impact of Trump tariffs, says minister

Japan ‘deeply concerned’ at global impact of Trump tariffs, says minister

Tokyo needs to scrutinise these policies and their effects, and take appropriate measures, Katsunobu Kato says.

Japan’s finance minister, Katsunobu Kato, arrives at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo on Oct 1, 2024. (EPA Images pic)
TOKYO:
Japan is “deeply concerned” about the possible repercussions on global trade of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs targeting major trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, its finance minister said on Sunday.

Trump said Canadian and Mexican exports to the US would face a 25% tariff starting on Tuesday, while goods from China, which already face various rates of duties, would see an additional 10% tariff.

The announcement threatens upheaval across supply chains, from energy to automobiles to food.

“We’re deeply concerned about how these tariffs could affect the world’s economy,” Japanese finance minister Katsunobu Kato told a Sunday show on Fuji TV.

Fuji TV said Kato also stressed the need to “thoroughly assess” the possible effects of Trump’s tariffs policy on the foreign exchange market.

“Japan needs to scrutinise these policies and their effects, and take appropriate measures,” Kato was quoted by Fuji TV as saying.

Trump said the measures aimed to punish countries for failing to halt flows of illegal migrants and drugs including fentanyl into the US.

China, Canada and Mexico have all vowed to respond to the tariffs.

Beijing’s commerce ministry said it would take “corresponding countermeasures” and file a claim against Washington at the World Trade Organization.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country would impose retaliatory tariffs while Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ottawa would also hit back with 25% levies of its own on select US goods worth C$155 billion (US$106.6 billion).

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