Japan and Vietnam pilot through individualistic route to deal with Trump’s tariff

Japan has officially requested an exemption from US President Donald Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium, as well as other reciprocal tariffs, according to a report from Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is prepared to engage with the United States to discuss the new tariffs on steel imposed by Washington, aiming to avoid the risk of additional duties, as stated by a spokesperson for its foreign ministry.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya made the request during a brief exchange with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Iwaya also expressed Japan’s eagerness to hold high-level security talks between the foreign and defence ministers of both nations “at an early date.”

According to a statement from Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the two diplomats agreed to maintain close communication to further strengthen economic relations between the US and Japan.

US-Japan’s past five years of trade history