America's copy-and-paste tariffs will rile ‘Mr Japan'
So went US President Donald Trump's sign-off in his letters issued to 14 trading partners on Monday (Jul 7). But in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will be more than disappointed. He's entitled to be furious.
Japan was among the first countries to begin talks after April's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcement. It has spent months in negotiations, with Ishiba's envoy making seven trips to the US for talks with Trump and other officials. The nation has been the largest investor in the US for the past five years and is a crucial security ally. All that only to end up with a tariff rate 1 percentage point higher than first proposed three months ago.
To add insult to injury, Japan was lumped in with countries that are far less vital partners, including Kazakhstan and Myanmar. While the threatened rates to be enacted on Aug 1 were different between countries, the copy-and-paste wording sent to the respective leaders was virtually identical, including telling Tokyo to open its 'heretofore closed trading markets' – whatever that means.
The warning signs were there after Trump erupted last week. Overnight, it seemed, Japan went from being respected, or 'tough', in Trump parlance, to being 'spoiled'. And while 'Mr Japan', as Trump seemingly dubbed Ishiba, may not have ended up with the 35 per cent tariffs once threatened, months of talks have only led to further threats.
In Seoul, recently elected President Lee Jae Myung might be feeling hard done by, too. His country is moving to address US concerns over non-tariff barriers, but has been hampered by the political turmoil prior to Lee's election. Japan might have thought it was getting the first-mover advantage Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promised to countries that came to the negotiating table fast. Instead, an identical rate has been levied on both countries.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Markets in Tokyo and Seoul barely skipped a beat, buying into the TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) trade as it quickly became clear that the letter was, in effect, an extension of the Jul 9 deadline. Trump's further suggestions that the deadline wasn't '100 per cent firm' make this clearly the latest in his 'Art of the Deal' brinkmanship to wring out more concessions.
And in Japan's case, Trump's 25 per cent auto tariffs – the elimination of which is Ishiba's primary goal – are already in effect. That's why the longest-lasting impact of Monday's announcement will be to further chip away at trust between Washington's most vital partner in staring down China.
The prime minister has stood surprisingly firm in the talks, while making good-faith efforts to engage with the US. But might his engagement have been too earnest?
Flattery and a bit of exaggeration may have been the better way to go, perhaps taking a page out of SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son's handbook in dealing with the president. This might help sidestep Tokyo's biggest problem: the difficulty in understanding what Trump actually wants. Local media have already reported how officials have been baffled by the open disagreements between the US negotiators. A vague hand wave – promises to place a Ford F-150 in every Japanese garage, or whatever Trump wants to hear – might be a better way to buy time.
Trump is clearly pulling out the seat at the negotiating table. But Ishiba already has his hands full with crucial Upper House elections on Jul 20, where he can't be seen to be giving concessions or selling rice farmers down the river. Still, the latest move could even be advantageous to him; after all, no one likes a bully. Meanwhile, any expectations that the Bank of Japan will hike rates later this month – at a meeting scheduled the day before the tariffs come into effect – should prepare for disappointment.
The longer-term consequences are harder to read. It's possible, even likely, that Trump will have another of his trademark changes of heart, and suddenly Japan, South Korea, and the other trading partners will be US friends again. Constantly kicking the can down the road indicates he doesn't really want to follow through with his threats.
But such incessant bluster chips away at goodwill built up between the partners over decades. And that's something that can't simply be copied and pasted. BLOOMBERG
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


International Business Times
23 minutes ago
- International Business Times
Trump's Meme Mocking Obama Backfires as JD Vance Steals Spotlight Again
In a fresh jab at former President Barack Obama, Donald Trump stirred the internet with a meme, only to have Senator JD Vance unexpectedly steal the spotlight. Trump reposted an edited image originally shared by his son, Donald Trump Jr., spoofing the notorious 1994 O.J. Simpson police chase. In the meme, Obama is shown riding in the iconic white Ford Bronco, cast as a fugitive. Trump appears behind the wheel of a pursuing police cruiser. Yet the image's viral appeal didn't come from the main figures—it was JD Vance who drew the internet's attention. Trailing behind in a second squad car is Vance, humorously portrayed with long hair and a youthful, clean-shaven face, resembling his college-era appearance. This version of "long-haired JD Vance" has been a recurring meme ever since his emergence on the national stage, and it once again dominated social media discussions. The meme followed another provocative post by Trump—an AI-generated video that depicted Obama being arrested in the Oval Office by FBI agents while Trump watched smugly. Shared on Truth Social, the video quickly gained traction and stirred controversy. These meme-based attacks come as former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has leveled serious allegations against the Obama administration. Gabbard claims she has "overwhelming" evidence that top officials under Obama fabricated the Trump-Russia collusion story following the 2016 election. She states over 100 documents implicate Obama in directing the effort, and she intends to present them to the Department of Justice and FBI. Though Trump's intent was likely to fuel political criticism of Obama, the internet seems more captivated by JD Vance's retro look, turning a targeted meme into yet another viral distraction.

Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump, EU's von der Leyen meet to clinch trade deal, rating chances 50-50
TURNBERRY, Scotland - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met US President Donald Trump on Sunday to clinch a trade deal that would likely result in a 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods, but end months of uncertainty for European Union companies. US and EU negotiators huddled in final talks on tariffs facing crucial sectors like cars, steel, aluminium and pharmaceuticals before the meeting began at Trump's golf course in Turnberry, western Scotland. Trump, who had earlier played a round with his son, told reporters as he met von der Leyen that he wanted to correct a trading arrangement he said was "very unfair to the United States" and repeated his comments from Friday that the chances of a US-EU deal were 50-50, a view echoed by von der Leyen. "We have three or four sticking points I'd rather not get into. The main sticking point is fairness," he said insisting the EU had to open up to American products. Von der Leyen acknowledged there was a need for "rebalancing" EU-US trade. "We have a surplus, the United States has a deficit and we have to rebalance it... we will make it more sustainable," she said. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who flew to Scotland on Saturday, told "Fox News Sunday" that the EU needed to open its markets for more US exports to convince Trump to reduce a threatened 30 per cent tariff rate that is due to kick in on August 1. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 "The question is, do they offer President Trump a good enough deal that is worth it for him to step off of the 30 per cent tariffs that he set," Lutnick said, adding that the EU clearly wanted - and needed - to reach an agreement. A separate US administration official was upbeat that a deal was possible. "We're cautiously optimistic that there will be a deal reached," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But it's not over till it's over." The EU deal would be a huge prize, given that the US and EU are each other's largest trading partners by far and account for a third of global trade in goods and services. Ambassadors of EU governments, on a weekend trip to Greenland organised by the Danish presidency of the EU, held a teleconference with EU Commission officials on Sunday to agree on the amount of leeway von der Leyen would have. In case there is no deal and the US imposes 30 per cent tariffs from August 1, the EU has prepared counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros (S$139 billion) of US goods. EU diplomats have said a deal would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the US-Japan trade deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium for which there could be export quotas. EU officials are hopeful that a 15 per cent baseline tariff would also apply to cars, replacing the current 27.5 per cent auto tariff. Possible exemptions Some expect the 27-nation bloc may be able to secure exemptions from the 15 per cent baseline tariff for its aerospace industry and for spirits, though probably not for wine. The EU could also pledge to buy more liquefied natural gas from the US, a long-standing offer, and boost investment in the United States. Trump told reporters there was "not a lot" of wiggle room on the 50 per cent tariffs that the US has on steel and aluminium imports, adding, "because if I do it for one, I have to do it for all." The US president, in Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral meetings, said a deal with the EU should draw to a close discussions on tariffs, but also said pharmaceuticals, for which the United States is looking into new tariffs, would not be part of a deal. The EU now faces US tariffs on more than 70 per cent of its exports, with 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, an extra 25 per cent on cars and car parts on top of the existing 2.5 per cent and a 10 per cent levy on most other EU goods. EU officials have said a "no-deal" tariff rate of 30 per cent would wipe out whole chunks of transatlantic commerce. A 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods would remove uncertainty but would be seen by many in Europe as a poor outcome compared to the initial European ambition of a zero-for-zero tariff deal on all industrial goods. Seeking to learn from Japan, which secured a 15 per cent baseline tariff with the US in a deal almost a week ago, EU negotiators spoke to their Japanese counterparts in preparation for Sunday's meeting. For Trump, aiming to reorder the global economy and reduce decades-old US trade deficits, a deal with the EU would be the biggest trade agreement, surpassing the US$550 billion deal with Japan. So far, he has reeled in agreements with Britain, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, although his administration has failed to deliver on a promise of "90 deals in 90 days." REUTERS

Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump says Israel will have to decide on next steps in Gaza, pledges more aid
FILE PHOTO: The son of displaced Palestinian woman Iman Suleiman, from Beit Lahiya, carries a box of aid the family received, distributed by the Emirates Red Crescent, in Gaza City, June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Khamis Al-Rifi/File Photo TURNBERRY, Scotland - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday Israel would have to make a decision on next steps in Gaza, adding that he did not know what would happen after the collapse of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with the Hamas militant group. Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, saying they had suddenly "hardened" up on the issue, and said the U.S. would provide more aid to the war-torn Palestinian enclave. "They don't want to give them back, and so Israel is going to have to make a decision," Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his golf property in Turnberry, Scotland. "I know what I'd do, but I don't think it's appropriate that I say it. But Israel is going to have to make a decision," he said, while also claiming, without evidence, that Hamas members were stealing food coming into Gaza and selling it. Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total deaths from malnutrition and hunger to 133 including 87 children. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, saying it had become clear that the Palestinian group did not want a deal. Netanyahu said Israel was now mulling "alternative" options to achieve its goals of bringing its hostages home from Gaza and ending Hamas rule in the enclave, where starvation is spreading and most of the population is homeless amid widespread ruin. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Trump said he believed Hamas leaders would now be "hunted down", telling reporters: "Hamas really didn't want to make a deal. I think they want to die. And it's very bad. And it got to be to a point where you're going to have to finish the job." US TO PROVIDE MORE AID, TRUMP SAYS Trump on Sunday said the U.S. would provide more humanitarian aid to Gaza, where concerns are mounting about the worsening hunger, but wanted other countries to participate as well. He said he would discuss the issue with von der Leyen. "We're giving a lot of money, a lot of food, a lot of everything," he said. "If we weren't there, I think people would have starved, frankly. They would have starved, and it's not like they're eating well." He said he had spoken with Netanyahu and discussed a number of issues, including Iran. He said and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would also discuss Israel when they meet at Trump's golf property in Turnberry on Monday. Trump also noted said the United States was not acknowledged for earlier food aid for Gaza. "No other country gave anything," he said, calling out European countries in particular. "It makes you feel a little bad when you do that and, you know, you have other countries not giving anything... Nobody gave but us. And nobody said, Gee, thank you very much. And it would be nice to have at least a thank you." REUTERS