Overview

• Japan's policy chief Itsunori Onodera highlighted concerns that U.S. tariffs could alienate ASEAN nations and harm Indo-Pacific security cooperation.
• The U.S. has imposed a 24% tariff on Japanese exports, paused until July, alongside a 10% universal levy and a 25% auto duty.
• Japanese negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is in Washington for a second round of talks aimed at addressing the tariffs' impact.
• Onodera emphasized Japan's role as the top foreign investor in the U.S., warning that weakened Japanese companies could reduce their capacity to invest.
• Japan offered to support U.S. development assistance to counter China's growing influence in the region, particularly as USAID faces potential dismantling.