Japanese and Indian Leaders Speak Out Against US Tariff Measures

The US government's revised "reciprocal tariffs" announced earlier took effect on the 7th. Dozens of US trading partners will face tariffs ranging from 10% to 41%, with Japan's rate set at 15%. On the 6th, US President Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports to the US, citing India's "direct or indirect imports of Russian oil."

Facing US tariff pressures, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that the US had failed to implement previously agreed terms and "strongly demanded immediate corrective measures to the presidential order." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that while rejecting US demands would come at a cost, India would not compromise its domestic industries.

Ishiba: Urges US to Amend Order

Currently, the US has trade agreements only with the UK, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, the EU, South Korea, and others. These deals were achieved through political coercion and economic pressure to maximize US interests.

According to Nikkei Asia, Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged at a press conference on the 7th that the US had not honored the "tariff relief" provisions in their bilateral agreement, stating, "We strongly urge the US to immediately amend the presidential order."

Reports indicate the US had promised during negotiations that Japan would receive "tariff relief" under the reciprocal tariffs—products already facing ≥15% duties would be exempt from additional tariffs, while those below 15% would see rates raised to 15%.

Ishiba noted "no disagreement exists between Japan and the US on this matter," adding that Economic Revitalization Minister Akira Amari, currently visiting the US, had reconfirmed the terms.

Japan argues that the lack of detailed tariff rules for Japan in the US official notice may subject some Japanese goods to higher tariffs.