Japan closely watching U.S. cybersecurity moves: Suga

May 16, 2019

Tokyo--Japan is closely watching the United States' moves on cybersecurity, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to ban the use of foreign communications equipment that could threaten U.S. national security.

"Ensuring the cybersecurity of 5G (fifth generation) networks is extremely important," Suga told a press conference. "We're closely watching related developments including U.S. government moves."

The presidential order, signed on Wednesday, is believed to be aimed at excluding products of Huawei Technologies Co. and other Chinese makers from the U.S. market.

Meanwhile, Trump is reportedly considering another executive order to restrict automobile imports from Japan and the European Union.

Downplaying the reported Trump move, Suga said, "We directly confirmed (with Trump) at a Japan-U.S. summit last September that no additional tariffs would be imposed on automobiles or auto parts under Section 232 (of the 1962 U.S. Trade Expansion Act) while we are holding trade negotiations." Jiji Press