Japan conveys concern over tariffs to US

March 4, 2018

Singapore- Japanese trade minister Hiroshige Seko conveyed strong concerns about planned U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in telephone conversations on Saturday, Seko said.

Steel and aluminum imports from U.S. ally Japan have no security implications for the United States, Seko told Ross.

Japanese products are of high quality and important to Japanese makers in the United States and the U.S. manufacturing industry, Seko said.

Import restrictions are likely to affect employment and the economy in the United States, Seko told Ross. The Japanese minister was in Singapore to attend a regional trade conference.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports for national security reasons. On Friday, Ross indicated that the tariffs will apply to all countries including U.S. allies. Jiji Press