Did you hear about what’s happening between Japan and the United States? Let’s break it down!
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba wants to have a chat with U.S. President Donald Trump. Why? Because the United States has decided to put new taxes, called tariffs, on things that Japan sells to America.
🔍 What’s a Tariff?
A tariff is like a tax that a country adds to things coming in from another country. Imagine you have to pay extra to buy candy from another town!
🛠️ Why Does This Matter?
The U.S. announced a new tariff of 24% on things from Japan. That’s a big number! Japan is worried because this means their products, like cars, will be more expensive in the U.S., and people might buy less of them.
🚗 Impact on Cars
Japan makes a lot of cars that are sold in America. With the new tariffs, Japanese car companies are concerned they will lose money, which could affect jobs and the economy in Japan.
📞 Time to Talk
Prime Minister Ishiba is planning to talk to President Trump next week. He wants to explain how Japan and the U.S. can work together and hopes the tariffs can be reduced.
💡 No Retaliation
Even though Japan is upset about the tariffs, they have decided not to fight back by adding their own tariffs on U.S. goods. Ishiba said, “We will not go tit-for-tat,” which means they don’t want to get into a trade fight.
💰 Looking for Solutions
Japan is thinking about investing more in the United States to show they are good partners. They also want to help small businesses in Japan deal with the changes.
🌾 Rice and Other Issues
President Trump mentioned that Japan has high tariffs on things like rice. Japan says these numbers might not be correct and wants to talk about it.
🌍 What Happens Next?
We’ll have to wait and see what happens when the two leaders talk. Many people hope they can find a solution that works for both countries!
Reference(s):
Japan's PM to discuss tariffs with Trump after failed exemption lobby
cgtn.com
