Press Conference by Minister Muto (Excerpt)

*Note: This is a provisional translation for reference purposes only.

10:53 to 11:05 a.m.
Friday, March 28, 2025
Press Conference Room, METI Main Building

Opening Remarks

None

Question-and-Answer Session

Actions to address the U.S. tariff measures imposed on automobiles

Q: I would like to ask you again about the tariff measures that the U.S. Trump Administration decided to impose on imported automobiles. Yesterday, in response to a question on countermeasures raised at the Diet meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba said that all options are to be considered. Similar questions were also asked at yesterday’s on-the-move interview. Could you explain again how you accept the Prime Minister’s responses at this point in time as the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and what specific countermeasures you have in mind?

A: As the Prime Minister said, we also think that we need to consider every angle.

From now, in cooperation and collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, we will carefully examine the details of the new U.S. tariff measures and their impact on Japan and will continue to strongly request that the United States remove Japan from the scope of its new measures. At the same time, we consider it necessary to continue close examination of the impact of the measures on the Japanese industry and domestic employment and take all possible measures to ensure financing or otherwise support related businesses.

Actions to address the U.S. tariff measures imposed on automobiles: Trade Agreement between Japan and the United States of America

Q: Regarding tariffs on automobiles, under the Trade Agreement between Japan and the United States of America, which was signed between the then Prime Minister Abe and the then U.S. President Trump during his first presidency, additional tariffs are not to be imposed while the Agreement is being implemented. Do you consider that this promise was broken? What do you think?

A: The Joint Statement of Japan and the United States, which was issued in September 2019, contains the statement, “While faithfully implementing these agreements, both nations will refrain from taking measures against the spirit of these agreements and this Joint Statement.” You are asking whether this promise was broken. As you know, at the summit meeting with the United States at that time, the then Prime Minister Abe clearly confirmed with the then U.S. President Trump that the United States would not impose additional tariffs on Japanese automobiles and auto parts. In light of these developments as well, the recent U.S. decision is very regrettable. We will continue efforts to strongly request that the United States remove Japan from the scope of the new tariff measures while sufficiently examining their impact on Japan.

Japan-U.S. deliberations at the administrative level concerning the U.S. tariff measures

Q: I would like to ask you one more question in relation to the U.S. tariff measures. Could you explain the progress of the Japan-U.S. deliberations at the administrative level?

A: On March 27 in Washington, D.C. (local time), Vice-Minister for International Affairs Matsuo and Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Akahori held deliberations with officials of the U.S. Commerce Department and other U.S. government officials. I will refrain from explaining the details of the deliberations as they are diplomatic matters, but in response to yesterday’s U.S. announcement concerning automobile tariffs, the Japanese side expressed extreme regret that the announced tariff measures targeted Japan as well, and strongly requested again that Japan be excluded from the scope of the additional tariffs. As I said earlier, we will carefully examine the impact of the U.S. tariff measures and continue to strongly request that Japan should not be subject to them. At the same time, we will deliberate on this issue closely with the United States and persist in taking other required measures.

Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting between the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People’s Republic of China

Q: This is also a question relating to tariffs. On March 30, this coming Sunday, the Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Seoul between Japan, China, and the ROK. This will be a gathering of three countries that are included in the scope of the U.S. additional tariff measures. In that sense, what do you expect of this meeting, or in what areas do you consider collaborating with China and the ROK?

A: On March 30, the Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Seoul between Japan, China, and the ROK, as you said, and the three countries are now making arrangements for it. It is not yet fixed due to circumstances concerning the Diet, but if the Diet permits, the meeting will be held for the first time in five years.

I think that Japan will deepen deliberations with China and the ROK on the importance of maintaining and strengthening the rules-based international economic order and the securing of a transparent and predictable business environment for Japanese companies. If possible, Japan would like to hold bilateral meetings with ministers of the ROK and China, respectively.

This year commemorates the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the ROK. Japan would like to discuss the strengthening of the bilateral economic relationship with the ROK.

With China, Japan would like to discuss the promotion of dialogues in diverse ways between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Commerce, and the securing of the business environment. Additionally, we would like to urge China to remove the import restriction on Japanese fishery products.

You are asking whether we will talk about the U.S. measures, I think, but the meeting is for deliberating on cooperation among Japan, China, and the ROK and it is not planned to take up any specific country’s measures as part of the agenda.