Japan’s tough stance on US tariffs threatens to stall trade deal

By: bitcoin ethereum news|2025/05/16 17:45:05
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Japan’s unwavering demand for the elimination of US tariffs on its automobile exports is casting a shadow over ongoing trade negotiations with Washington, raising concerns about the potential derailment of a comprehensive trade agreement. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has clarified that Japan will not accept any trade deal that fails to address the Trump administration’s 25% tariffs imposed on Japanese car imports. These tariffs have significantly impacted Japan’s automotive sector, a cornerstone of its export economy, contributing to a $63 billion trade surplus with the US. Japan, the US’s largest foreign investor and closest ally in Asia, is eager to strengthen ties with Washington. The Prime Minister initially prioritized securing a spot at the negotiating table before other countries. However, Tokyo officials highlight that a deal is now unlikely to be reached before the late July elections for Japan’s upper house of parliament, which are already anticipated to be challenging for Ishiba’s already unpopular government. Japan shifts stance on tariff talks, seeking a favorable deal Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s minister of economy, led the country’s negotiators and met twice with the Trump administration’s representatives. Tokyo’s finance minister Katsunobu Kato also plans to talk separately with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a G7 meeting in Canada next week. Despite Japan’s strong desire to be the first country to begin tariff talks with Washington, the focus now is on ensuring a favorable deal, according to a Tokyo official with direct knowledge of the talks. Based on information from officials and analysts concerning Ishiba’s stance, he was forced to reconsider after facing pressure from business leaders and members of his own Liberal Democratic party to reject any deal that endangers the automotive industry or threatens domestic farmers. Japan’s initial stance is to remove all new US tariffs, including a 25% levy on imports of steel, aluminum, and automobiles and a 24% “reciprocal” tariff on other Japanese goods that has since been temporarily lowered to a 10% baseline level. One of Japan’s initial proposals was to tie percentage-point tariff reductions to the amount of Japanese business investment in the US. According to company and analyst estimates, the impact of US tariffs on the operating profits of Japan’s major automakers is expected to be around ¥2 trillion, worth about $13.7 billion, in the current fiscal year that ends in March of next year. However, actions like price increases may mitigate the impact. Japan’s economy contracted for the first time in a year in the first quarter. Japan presses for auto tariff relief According to a second Japanese official knowledgeable about the negotiations, the largest export market from Japan to the US is automobiles and auto parts. This implies that the auto tariff issue must be addressed during this US-Japan negotiation. The official believes that if the nation is not able to come to any consensus, it will not be able to make progress in this area. Among the best offers Tokyo could make to Washington are increased buys of American farm products, greater access to markets for American automobiles, and funds for a project to build a pipeline in Alaska for liquefied natural gas. Nicholas Smith, a Japan strategist at CLSA Securities, stated that Japan is now in a strong position. Shigeru Ishiba has his political career and that of his party to defend; he cannot just roll over. Smith added that cars comprised 81% of Japan’s trade surplus with the US in 2024. If he fails to win lower auto tariffs, PM Ishiba would be on a conveyor belt headed for revolving knives. However, Ishiba has said he will not cut Japan’s domestic agriculture sector, which employs many people, to accept lower auto tariffs. The extent of Japan’s influence in the White House was not known. Reliant on Washington for security, Tokyo had a goods trade surplus of over $60 billion with the US in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Meanwhile, accusations from the Trump administration that Japan is intentionally undervaluing the yen have further complicated negotiations. Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon – A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More Source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/japans-stance-on-tariffs-could-stall-deal/

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DDC Enterprise Limited Announces 2025 Unaudited Preliminary Financial Performance: Record Revenue Achieved, Bitcoin Treasury Grows to 2183 Coins

On March 4, 2026, DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE American: DDC) today announced preliminary, unaudited full-year financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025. The company expects to achieve record revenue and record positive adjusted EBITDA, primarily driven by continued growth in its core consumer food business and overall margin improvement. The final audited financial report is expected to be released in mid-April 2026.


2025 Full-Year Financial Highlights


Revenue: Expected to be between $39 million and $41 million, reaching a new company high.


Organic Growth: Excluding the impact of the company's strategic contraction of its U.S. operations, core revenue is expected to grow 11% to 17% year over year.


Gross Profit Margin: Expected to be between 28% and 30%, reflecting continued operational efficiency improvements.


Adjusted EBITDA: The company expects to achieve a positive full-year result in 2025, a significant improvement from a $3.5 million loss in 2024, mainly due to rigorous cost controls and a higher-margin sales mix.


Core Consumer Food Business Performance


In 2025, DDC's core consumer food business maintained strong operational performance.


The company also disclosed Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA, a metric that further excludes costs related to its Bitcoin reserve strategy and non-cash fair value adjustments related to its Bitcoin holdings from adjusted EBITDA to more accurately reflect the core business performance.


In 2025, Core Consumer Food Business Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $5.5 million and $6 million.


Bitcoin Reserve Update


In the first half of 2025, DDC initiated a long-term Bitcoin accumulation strategy, holding Bitcoin as its primary reserve asset.


As of December 31, 2025: The company holds 1,183 BTC.


As of February 28, 2026: Holdings increased to 2,118 BTC


Today's additional purchase of 65 BTC brings the company's total holdings to 2,183 BTC


DDC Founder, Chairman, and CEO Norma Chu stated, "We are proud to have closed 2025 with record revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA, demonstrating the steady growth of the company's consumer food business and the ongoing improvement in profitability. We are building a disciplined, growth-oriented food platform and strategically allocating capital to Bitcoin assets with a long-term view, aligning with our core beliefs. We believe that this dual-track model of 'Steady Consumer Business + Strategic Bitcoin Reserve' will help DDC create lasting long-term value for shareholders."


Adjusted EBITDA Definition
For the full year 2025, the company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" (a non-GAAP financial measure) as: Net income / (loss) excluding the following items:· Interest expense· Taxes· Foreign exchange gains/losses· Long-lived asset impairment· Depreciation and amortization· Non-cash fair value changes related to financial instruments (including Bitcoin holdings)· Stock-based compensation


About DDC Enterprise Limited


DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE: DDC) is actively implementing its corporate Bitcoin Treasury strategy while continuing to strengthen its position as a leading global Asian food platform.


The company has established Bitcoin as a core reserve asset and is executing a prudent, long-oriented accumulation strategy. While expanding its portfolio of food brands, DDC is gradually becoming one of the public company pioneers in integrating Bitcoin into its corporate financial architecture.


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