Japan PM Ishiba Says Japan, U.S. Cannot Keep Going Along Parallel Lines Forever on Tariffs

The Japan News

16:30 JST, July 21, 2025

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, “[Japan and the United States] cannot keep going along parallel lines forever” on tariff negotiations, at a press conference in Tokyo on Monday.

“I said, ‘investment rather than tariffs,’ and we are making various efforts to gain understanding [from the U.S.],” he added.

As the Aug. 1 deadline for the U.S. imposing its 25% “reciprocal tariff” on Japanese imports is approaching, economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa will visit the United States this week for an eighth round of tariff negotiations.