Overview

• Economic Revitalization Minister Ryo Akazawa returned from Washington and said duties continue despite the reduction, pledging impact analysis and necessary responses.
• The auto tariff applied to Japan fell to 15% from 27.5% under a Sept. 4 executive order, a level industry and political leaders still describe as burdensome.
• Opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda called the move a certain advance but urged a swift supplementary budget, and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya rejected calls for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to step down while stressing robust countermeasures.
• Ruling and opposition parties agreed Akazawa will brief a closed House Budget Committee session in the week of Sept. 16 on the U.S.–Japan tariff agreement and planned mitigation.
• Policy uncertainty remains as President Trump has floated 100% or higher tariffs on sectors such as semiconductors, and Akazawa noted no order has been issued to ensure Japan is not charged higher-than-others rates on drugs and chips.