US expresses optimism on tariff negotiations with Japan

Tokyo
In a significant diplomatic development, the United States Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, on Tuesday expressed strong optimism regarding ongoing tariff negotiations between Washington and Tokyo.

His remarks followed a high-level meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, signaling renewed momentum in bilateral economic dialogue. Ambassador Glass described the current phase of US-Japan relations as a golden age in terms of both economics and friendship, according to local media reports. His comments come ahead of the second round of trade talks expected later this month. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Glass stated, The best and brightest minds of both nations are working together to improve our economies, adding that he remains very optimistic about the outcomes of the discussions.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the leaders exchanged views on a range of topics including current US tariff policies. Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to deepening cooperation across diverse sectors, to which Ambassador Glass agreed. Highlighting the strategic partnership, Prime Minister Ishiba called the Japan-US alliance the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy and national security. Glass echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the alliance as the most critical bilateral relationship and affirming his dedication to strengthening it further.

The two leaders also discussed regional issues, including the security challenges posed by China and North Korea. Prime Minister Ishiba reiterated Japan’s plea for continued US support in resolving the long-standing abductions issue, which received full backing from Ambassador Glass. Additionally, on Monday, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi formally welcomed Ambassador Glass and underscored the importance of candid discussions to fortify the alliance. Both parties exchanged views on expanding Japan-US defense cooperation and the need to minimize the impact on local communities, according to a ministry statement.