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Saudi Gazette
02-07-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Trump warns ‘spoiled' Japan may not get a US trade deal
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump cast doubt on reaching a trade deal with Japan, a day after threatening higher tariffs on Japanese exports to the United States, claiming the country won't buy American rice. 'We've dealt with Japan. I'm not sure if we're gonna make a deal, I doubt it, with Japan,' he told reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday. 'They and others are so spoiled from having ripped us off for 30, 40 years that it's really hard for them to make a deal.' As July 9, the end of the 90-day pause on Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs,' approaches, US trade partners including Japan are looking to strike deals that they hope will appease the American president. Japanese exports to the US were hit with a 24% levy when Trump launched his global tariff offensive on April 2, before pausing them for three months. Trump's comment came as Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited in Washington for a Quad meeting, along with counterparts from Australia and India. It also followed Japan's tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa's seventh trip to Washington for trade talks last week. Japan is a key trade partner and security ally of the US in East Asia, though relations between the two have been tested by Trump's aggressive tariffs. On Tuesday, Trump also said that he does not plan to extend the pause on tariffs beyond July 9. 'I'm not thinking about a pause,' he said, when asked by a reporter if he was considering extending the breathing room. 'Some countries, we won't even allow to trade. But for the most part, we're gonna determine a number,' he added, referring to the tariff rate. On Monday, Trump first accused Japan of not buying rice from the US in a post on social media. That claim, however, is not true. Last year, Japan bought $298 million worth of rice from the US, according to the US Census Bureau. Between January and April of this year, Japan bought $114 million worth of rice. But Trump repeated the claim on Tuesday. 'They need rice so badly, but they won't take rice,' he said. He added that the Japanese also don't buy US cars, claiming: 'We didn't give them one car in 10 years.' Last year, Japan imported 16,707 units of American automobiles, according to the Japan Automobile Importers Association. Trump suggested that the likely result for Japan would be a tariff rate that has yet to be determined. 'What I'm going to do is, I'll write them a letter to say, 'We thank you very much, and we know you can't do the kind of things that we need, and therefore you pay a 30%, 35% or whatever the number is that we determine,'' Trump said. It's unclear if Japanese officials involved in ongoing trade negotiations with the US have said they will stop buying rice from America in the future. On Wednesday, Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said trade talks between the two sides are continuing. The Japanese government is aware of Trump's claims, he said, but he declined to comment on them. 'Japan will continue to engage vigorously in sincere and honest discussions toward the realization of an agreement that will benefit both Japan and the United States,' he said. Trade negotiations between Japan and the US have remained at an impasse – chiefly over Trump's tariffs on cars, a key pillar of the Japanese economy. Japan has hoped that the US would lower the 25% tariff it imposed on cars, but Trump has refused to budge. In mid-June, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit. While they agreed to push forward with trade negotiations, the meeting failed to yield a breakthrough. — CNN
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New data reveals Tesla's unexpected dominance in shrinking EV market: 'There are few homegrown EV options'
Amid widespread controversy surrounding Tesla, new data shows that sales for the electric vehicle automaker have actually grown in Japan. The Japan Automobile Importers Association reported a 56% yearly increase in first-quarter sales in 2025 for vehicles categorized as "others." According to Nikkei Asia, Tesla accounts for most of the vehicles in that category. Despite Japan's overall EV market declining by 33%, imported EV sales are on the rise. In fact, imports account for about 75% of overall EV sales in Japan, according to Teslarati. The publication said the introduction of the new Model Y and various incentives may be impacting the spike in vehicle demand. There's also the added financial benefit for EV drivers. Drivers can save around $1,500 a year on gas and maintenance by switching to the more planet-friendly upgrade. Electric cars produce zero tailpipe pollution and generally have a smaller carbon footprint over their lifetimes than gas-powered cars, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Data from Japan showed that EV sales for all Japanese brands combined were less than Tesla during Q1. S&P global analyst Yoshiaki Kawano mentioned that Japanese automakers don't offer many EV options for local consumers, which pushes them toward other eco-friendly brands. "There are few homegrown EV options, so in some cases people who want to buy EVs reluctantly choose imports," Kawano said. Teslarati commenters agreed that the EV market in Japan could use some upgrades. "EV market in Japan is tiny," one wrote. While demand for Tesla vehicles is up in Japan, the automaker is facing significant challenges elsewhere. Tesla revealed plunging profits in Q1, announcing that revenue dipped 9% and auto revenue dropped 20%. In addition, the automaker's net income was down 71% from last year. According to CNN, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors he would scale back his role with the Department of Government Efficiency to focus on the auto company. Musk's political involvement has drawn significant backlash in recent months. Some analysts even called the brand damage "irreversible." Do you trust Tesla to produce quality products? Absolutely I trust Tesla not Elon I'm not sure Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
NHK
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- NHK
American cars still a tough sell in Japan
The auto sector has been a focal point in tariff negotiations between the US and its trading partners. President Trump has been critical of how few American cars are sold in Japan, blaming what he called "non-tariff cheating" like differing vehicle standards. Some say that's not the only issue. A company north of Tokyo specializes in imported cars. It sells around 100 American vehicles every year. It gets many repeat customers who like the styling of American cars and the power of their engines. Imported cars sold in Saitama Prefecture But since vehicle standards are different in the two countries, the cars need to be retrofitted before they're sold. For example, the turn signals need to be orange. A salesperson says preparing US imports takes both time and money. Passing safety checks Cars in Japan also undergo safety checks based on standards carried out in 61 countries and regions, including European nations, South Korea, Thailand and Australia. No new certification is required in Japan if cars are imported from such places. One test evaluates the impact an accident could have on a pedestrian, specifically their head. But the test isn't required in the US. As a result, American cars need to run tests to meet the standards in Japan. Mismatch with needs of Japanese market But some say that's not the only reason American cars aren't popular. Fukao Sanshiro, an analyst with expertise in the car industry, says US automakers have failed to meet the needs of the Japanese market. Fukao Sanshiro, Executive Fellow, Itochu Research Institute Fukao says many US cars are bulky, and are not fit for Japanese roads. Poor fuel efficiency is also a major factor. It makes the vehicles unappealing to drivers who want to be able to navigate the narrow streets of their own neighborhoods. US brands only 0.3% of car sales in Japan The Japan Automobile Importers Association says about 230,000 foreign cars were imported and sold last year, accounting for around five percent of all new auto sales. American cars only accounted for over 16,000 units. The majority of imported cars are German brands. Mercedes-Benz sold the most, topping 53,000 units. It was followed by BMW and Volkswagen. German automakers were quick to meet the market's needs. For example, in Japan, the driver's side is normally on the right. But many American brands have it on the left. That puts people off. German brands, though, were quick to export right-side vehicles. Among US carmakers, Jeep is the top seller. As for other US brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Ford, they each sold a few hundred units each. Overall, they're a tiny segment of the Japanese market. Jeep makes inroads in Japan A Jeep dealership in Tokyo Jeep ranks 7th overall among foreign automakers, with over 9,000 vehicles sold last year. Its dealers have made efforts to fit into the local market. One focuses on Jeep's more compact models as these are better suited to narrow streets and have smaller engine displacements that will be taxed at a lower rate. The vehicles meet Japanese standards when imported, so they don't need retrofitting. Haruta Koji, manager at the dealership says, "We are selling cars that are safe to drive in Japan to customers who love American cars."
