Abe Slams Possible U.S. Auto Tariff Hike as Incomprehensible

May 30, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday denounced U.S. government preparations to impose hefty tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts.

The U.S. move is "incomprehensible and unacceptable," Abe, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said during his first parliamentary debate with opposition party leaders since December 2016.

The U.S. government last week launched an investigation into auto imports to decide whether to raise tariffs.

Abe said his government is working on the issue with the U.S. side.

He made the comments after Yuichiro Tamaki of the Democratic Party for the People urged the Japanese government to respond to the U.S. move in a tough manner. "We can't accept unreasonable and unfair trade rules," Tamaki said.

Abe reiterated his denial of his wife's involvement in a controversial state land deal with school operator Moritomo Gakuen, after Yukio Edano of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan argued that she apparently exercised influence over the Finance Ministry on the deal.

Abe's wife, Akie, was once appointed honorary principal of Moritomo Gakuen's planned elementary school. Edano referred to recently disclosed ministry documents showing that a then aide to her made an inquiry to the ministry about possible preferential treatment for the group.

"My wife knew nothing about the land contract's details," the prime minister insisted.

Abe was also asked about a cronyism scandal involving Kake Educational Institution, headed by a friend of his.

The Kake group admitted on Saturday that it had lied to local governments in relation to its launch of a veterinary school by briefing them about an imaginary meeting between the prime minister and the group head on the school plan.

Abe said he had no plans to lodge a protest or file a lawsuit against the group over the fabricated information. Jiji Press