Japan has signalled it is prepared to hold out for a better deal with US President Donald Trump over trade tariffs, pushing for full removal of his 25 per cent duty on imports of Japanese cars rather than risk a domestic political backlash.
Japan, the US’s biggest outside investor and closest ally in Asia, is keen to avoid any souring of relations with Washington and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba initially made a priority of getting to the US negotiating table ahead of other nations.
But pressure from business leaders and members of Ishiba’s own Liberal Democratic party to reject any deal that puts the car sector at risk or threatens domestic farmers have forced him to recalculate, officials and analysts said.