Trump lobbies Japan to close its trade deficit and expects "good things" from North Korea



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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, yesterday asked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to correct the trade imbalance with the United States. He said he was satisfied with the developments in North Korea, despite recent missile and rocket launches.
After their summit, Trump said at a press conference with Abe that he wanted US exports to be put on an equal footing in Japan through the removal of trade barriers. He added that he hoped to be able to announce further information on the trade soon and that he had agreed with Abe to extend their cooperation in the field of human space exploration.
"We have an incredibly important imbalance, as you know, a trade imbalance with Japan for many, many years, with Japan having the big advantage," said Trump.
"They are brilliant businessmen, brilliant negotiators and put us in a very difficult situation. But I think we will have an agreement with Japan, "he added.
Abe, for his part, said the two leaders agreed to speed up the trade negotiations, while avoiding a timing issue. Trump, who is making a four-day state visit to Japan to present the US-Japan alliance, said Sunday on Twitter that he was expecting great advances in the field of trade pending elections to the upper house of Japan in July.
"In terms of trade, I think we will announce some things, probably in August, that will be very good for both countries," Trump said at the start of the negotiations. "We will settle the trade balance quickly, I think." Under-Secretary-General Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters that no agreement has been reached to reach a trade deal by August.
Abe, who has had a warm relationship with Trump since the American leader came to power, stressed the proximity of ties. "This visit by President Trump and Mrs. Trump is a golden opportunity to show clearly the unshakeable connection with the world and Japan," Abe said at the press conference.
Earlier, Trump had been greeted by Emperor Naruhito and his wife, educated at Harvard, at the Imperial Palace during an official ceremony. Trump is the first foreign dignitary to be received by the monarch since Naruhito inherited the throne after the resignation of his father, Akihito, on April 30, the first abdication of a Japanese emperor in two centuries. Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, held a six-course state dinner later yesterday for Trump and his wife, Melania, and dozens of guests, including many were dressed in tuxedos or colored kimonos.
In his toast, Naruhito highlighted how Japan concluded a treaty with the United States when it was born in 1854 after more than 200 years of voluntary isolation. "Since then, our two nations and peoples have overcome various difficulties to cultivate mutual understanding and trust and to become close neighbors to the Pacific, bound by a strong friendship," he said.
On Sunday, Trump spent what he described as an "incredible night" watching Japanese national sumo – where almost naked wrestlers tackle a raised ring of sand – after he and Abe linked up with the hamburger and golf. While Abe and Trump unveiled their friendship, Trump threatened to target Japanese automakers with high tariffs. He has also led a costly trade dispute with China. The trade war between the two largest economies in the world has hurt global markets.
Trump told the news conference that Washington was not ready to reach an agreement with Beijing, but he was expecting one in the future. "I think we will have a very good agreement with China in the future. Because I do not believe that China can continue to pay these hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs, "he said. "You know that hundreds of thousands of companies are leaving China for non-tariff zones."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing that China's position is the same: disputes must be resolved through negotiations and Sino-US consultations "must be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit ". Trump and Abe also have disagreements over North Korea. Trump expressed optimism about prospects for abandoning his nuclear program by North Korea, and reiterated that he was not bothered by recent missile tests, which did he said, did not believe to have ignored resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
"My people think it could have been a violation, as you know. I see him differently – I consider him a man, maybe he wants to attract attention. Maybe not. Who knows? This is not serious. All I know is that there has been no nuclear test, no ballistic missile, no long-range missile. And I think one day we will have an agreement, "said Trump. "I'm not in a hurry," he added.
Trump also said that he was in agreement with Kim to say that former US Vice President Joe Biden, critic of North Korea and campaigning to become the Democratic Party's candidate for the US presidential election of 2020, was a "low IQ individual".
Abe said that he supported Trump 's approach towards Kim, but reiterated Japan' s position that recent short – range missile tests violated Kim 's resolutions. UN.
The two leaders also discussed Iran. The Japanese media announced that Abe was planning to visit the country next month to try to dispel growing tensions between Iran and the United States.

Last update: May 28, 2019 1:34

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