Aso, Mnuchin Agree to Put Full Pressure on N. Korea

June 1, 2018

Whistler, Canada- Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin agreed Thursday that the two countries will jointly put every pressure on North Korea to realize its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization.

The two held talks before the day's start of a two-day meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors in Whistler, Canada.

As a U.S.-North Korea summit may soon be held for the first time ever, Aso set out Japan's positions on North Korean issues to the U.S. side, according to sources with access to the meeting.

On U.S. government preparations to increase its tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts, Aso stressed that Japanese automakers have been contributing to the U.S. economy by investing in the country, the sources said.

Aso urged Mnuchin to study the matter in a calm manner and refrain from raising the auto tariffs.

He also sought permanent exemption for Japanese products from additional U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Aso and Mnuchin raised the issue of China's excessive lending to developing countries and reaffirmed that Japan and the United States will cooperate in responding to such situations.

They did not discuss currency exchange issues or a possible Japan-U.S. free trade agreement. Jiji Press