Japan raps US steel, aluminum tariffs

March 23, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese trade minister Hiroshige Seko on Friday criticized US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Japan and other countries.

The measure "is extremely regrettable," Seko told a news conference. "We'll patiently continue to call for excluding" Japan from the tariffs, he added.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga showed a similar view at a separate news conference, saying Japanese products do not negatively affect US national security because the Asian country is a U.S. ally.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono said that he has "conveyed concerns to the United States." Kono also expressed a wish to exchange opinions with the US side further over the matter.

"Tit-for-tat retaliation could lead to a collapse of the free trade system," Seko said. "It's important to resolve related problems mainly at the World Trade Organization."

The United States invoked the 25 pct steel tariff and 10 pct aluminum tariff as measures to address a threat to national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

On sanctions against China based on Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act, Seko noted the significance of protecting patent and other intellectual property rights.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump signed an order to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion worth of Chinese imports, accusing China of violating US intellectual property rights.

Market-distorting measures including intellectual property right violations "pose grave concerns also to Japan," Seko said. Jiji Press