Japanese PM, US pres. hope for productive tariff talks

TOKYO, May 23 (KUNA) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US President Donald Trump on Friday discussed a wide range of issues, including cooperation on economic security, in relation to tariff negotiations, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.
During their 45-minute phone talks, Ishiba conveyed Japan's position on US tariff measures, and expressed hope that the upcoming ministerial-level tariff negotiations will be productive, to which Trump agreed, the ministry said in a press release.
Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's top tariff negotiator with the US, is set to participate in the ministerial negotiations in Washington later this week.
The two leaders also exchanged views on issues related to diplomacy and security, and Trump explained the results of his recent visit to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said.
Ishiba responded by expressing his appreciation for the diplomatic efforts of the US. In addition, the premier said he was looking forward to meeting face-to-face on the fringes of the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Canada on June 15-17, to which Trump replied that he was also looking forward to it.
"I believe that the overall meeting confirmed that we will work together to build a win-win relationship (in the Japan-US tariff negotiations)," Ishiba told reporters after their conversation, adding that the phone call was at Trump's request.
"There is no change to the policy of Japan and the US cooperating on how to invest in America and create jobs there," he said. Ishiba also did not rule out the possibility of visiting the US to hold a face-to-face summit with Trump to coincide with the G-7 Canada Summit "depending on the situation." (end) mk.mt