In the White House’s Rose Garden this month, President Trump paused during a tariff announcement to fondly recall Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister of Japan, who was assassinated three years ago. Despite his praise for Abe, Trump implemented a 24 percent tariff on products imported from Japan, but Japan is now one of the first countries allowed to negotiate a possible reprieve from these sweeping tariffs. Japan’s current prime minister has tried to use a similar playbook during the second Trump administration, but with mixed results. While the tariffs have targeted America’s friends and foes alike, Japan has reacted with feelings of betrayal and bewilderment. Japan’s current prime minister has tried to use the same playbook during the second Trump administration, but with mixed results. Japan’s current prime minister has tried to use the same playbook to avoid Trump’s tariffs.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/world/asia/japan-trump-tariffs.html