Japan's six major ports flatlined in May as a 3 per cent import surge offset sagging exports, with #Yokohama leading growth and #Kawasaki posting the sharpest decline among Japan's key #container gateways, transport ministry data shows. #portthroughput #Japantrade #maritime #shipping

Japanese companies stockpile goods and consider supply chain shifts as U.S. trade policies threaten export-driven economy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s joining some of his top economic advisers on Wednesday for negotiations at the White House over tariffs and trade with a top Japanese official who is traveling to Washington for the talks. The Republican president said in a post on his social media platform that he’ll attend [...]

Middle East conflict shuts 20% of global LNG supply, giving Australia leverage in negotiations with Japan and China over price caps and export controls.

As U.S. LNG exports rise, Japan and other Asian nations navigate shifting energy strategies to enhance security and trade relations.

Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said the recently announced trade agreement between the United States and Japan is not a legally binding commitment, casting doubt on the scope and enforceability of the deal. In remarks that could cool optimism around the agreement, Akazawa urged caution, stating that not all comments from U.S. officials about the talks should be taken at face value. The comments suggest lingering uncertainty over the specifics of the deal and underline the potential gap between political announcements and formal trade commitments. The clarification comes as both countries seek to stabilise economic ties amid broader shifts in global trade dynamics. However, Akazawa’s comments hint at ongoing negotiation hurdles and highlight Japan’s intent to manage expectations as the talks progress. This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

Trump's team has been touting progress towards a deal with Japan and market participants have been watching closely for the contours, as it will offer a framework for others. But Japanese economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa left the US on Friday without a deal and that a deal would take some time. "We're not going to make a quick deal," Akazawa said. "It's difficult to say how long it will take to bridge the gap (between the two sides)." The Japanese press reported today that one of the offers was to drop domestic auto regulations. A new round of negotiations are scheduled for 'later this month', according to PM Ishiba. This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.

US stocks hit more records following US-Japan trade deal  Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

US stocks tick toward another record following a US-Japan trade deal  crossroadstoday.com

(Reuters) -European shares rose on Wednesday, led by automobiles, after U.S. President Donald Trump revived hopes for a trade deal with the EU following an agreement with Japan. The pan-European STOXX 600 index gained nearly 1% to 549.6 points, as of 0715 GMT, following three straight days of declines. Britain’s blue-chip FTSE 100 rose for a fifth session to a record high. Other regional indexes also traded higher with France’s CAC 40 leading the pack with a 1.3% jump. European automobile stocks led the broad-based rally with a 3.4% rise, tracking strength in Asian rivals. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz (OTC:MBGAF) gained 7.6% and 5.8%, respectively. Trump struck a trade deal with Japan that lowers tariffs on auto imports and spares Tokyo from punishing new levies on other goods in exchange for a $550 billion package of U.S.-bound investment and loans. The Japan deal included reduced 15% tariffs for auto exports to the U.S., down from 25% before. Meanwhile, the prospects of an EU-U.S. trade agreementimproved after Trump said on Tuesday that EU representatives would come for trade negotiations on Wednesday. Among individual stocks, Lonza shares were among the top gainers, rising 5.4% after the Swiss company topped core profit forecast driven by its drug manufacturing business. ASM International (AS:ASMI) pressured technology stocks after the computer chip equipment maker reported second-quarter bookings below market expectations on Tuesday. Its shares fell 7.7%, the most among STOXX 600. SAP fell 3.5% after the German software maker reported a positive second-quarter profit on cost cuts and increased demand but held off on increasing its full-year outlook.

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TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Friday that trade negotiations with the U.S. "remained in a fog" despite efforts by both sides to seek an agreement. Tokyo has failed so far to clinch a trade deal with Washington and fulfil its goal of convincing President Donald Trump to scrap a 25% tariff on Japanese cars as well as a 24% reciprocal tariff on other Japanese imports that has been paused until July 9. July 9 is an important date but not a deadline for bilateral trade talks, Akazawa told a news conference. "We’re looking for the possibility of a deal in ministerial-level negotiations. But the outlook remains in a fog," he said on the prospects of clinching an agreement. The remarks are likely to fuel fears that the bilateral trade talks could drag on possibly until after an expected upper house election on July 20. Analysts say the approaching election makes it difficult for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to make concessions on the politically sensitive issue of agriculture imports. Japan’s exports fell in May for the first time in eight months as big automakers like Toyota (NYSE:TM) were hit by sweeping U.S. tariffs, clouding the outlook for an economy heavily reliant on car shipments to the United States.

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan had made some progress in a fifth round of trade talks with U.S. officials aimed at ending tariffs that are hurting Japan’s economy, Tokyo’s chief tariff negotiator said. "Tariffs have already been imposed on autos, auto parts, steel and aluminum, and some of them have doubled to 50% along with 10% general tariff. These are causing daily losses to Japan’s economy," Ryosei Akazawa, said in Washington on Friday after talks with officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Akazawa declined to say what progress they had made. The latest round of talks may be the last in-person meeting between senior Japanese and U.S. officials before the Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit that starts on June 15, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan also faces a 24% tariff rate starting in July unless it can negotiate a deal with Washington. "We want an agreement as soon as possible. The G7 summit is on our radar, and if our leaders meet, we want to show what progress has been made," Akazawa said. "Still we must balance urgency with a need to guard our national interests," he added. Last month Japan’s trade negotiator said U.S. defence equipment purchases, shipbuilding technology collaboration, a revision of automobile import standards and an increase in agricultural imports could be bargaining chips in tariff talks. In a bid to reach an agreement with the U.S., Japan is also proposing a mechanism to reduce the auto tariff rate based on how much countries contribute to the U.S. auto industry, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday. Akazawa said Japan’s position has not changed and that the tariffs are not acceptable. Which stock should you buy in your very next trade? AI computing powers are changing the stock market. Investing.com's ProPicks AI includes 6 winning stock portfolios chosen by our advanced AI. In 2024 alone, ProPicks AI identified 2 stocks that surged over 150%, 4 additional stocks that leaped over 30%, and 3 more that climbed over 25%. Which stock will be the next to soar?

Investing.com -- In a recent meeting with Japanese trade officials, U.S. tariff negotiators displayed a reluctance to lower tariffs on cars, steel, and aluminum, as reported by the Nikkei newspaper on Friday. The Japanese side interpreted this stance as an indication of potential difficulties in cooperating. The U.S. tariff negotiators also included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The meeting, which took place in Washington on Thursday, involved U.S. negotiators presenting a proposed framework for a trade agreement to Japan’s top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, and other Japanese officials. While discussing the trade agreement, the Japanese representatives outlined measures that Japan could take to reduce its significant trade surplus with the U.S. Accordingly, these measures included reviewing non-tariff barriers on auto imports and increasing the purchase of U.S. agricultural goods. On Thursday, the Bank of Japan downgraded its growth forecast for the current fiscal year, projecting the economy will expand by just 0.5%, a significant cut from the 1.1% growth it anticipated in January. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda attributed the revision to the United States’ “unprecedented level” of tariffs, which he warned are weighing on global growth and threatening Japanese corporate profits. Speaking at a briefing in Tokyo, Ueda said the trade measures pose a broad risk to overseas demand and Japan’s export-driven economy. The updated outlook came as the Bank of Japan announced it would hold its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.5% in an effort to maintain stability amid mounting external headwinds.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was encouraged by "productive" early trade talks with Japan and South Korea this week, the Treasury said in a statement on Friday. In a readout issued a day after the bilateral meeting in Washington with Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato, the Treasury said Bessent "welcomed the strong start the two countries have made to bilateral trade discussions." The Treasury also said that tariff negotiations on Thursday with South Korea were aimed at finding a new equilibrium that encourages more trade between the two allies rather than restricting it. During a meeting on Thursday between Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, the officials agreed to "further productive discussions, including on currency policy," the Treasury said in a separate statement. "Secretary Bessent was encouraged by their discussions’ focus on an expanded equilibrium which encourages rather than restricts trade," the Treasury said, adding that he welcomed South Korea’s "fast and positive engagement" with the U.S. on tariffs.

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