Bloomberg Reports on Secretary Besent's Visit to Japan
Attention on Possible Visit to South Korea
Foreign media have reported that US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Besent is planning to visit Japan instead of attending the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers' meeting originally scheduled for next week.
On July 8 (local time), Bloomberg News, citing sources, reported that Secretary Besent will visit Japan next week to attend the "2025 Osaka·Kansai Expo (Osaka Expo)."
The United States is scheduled to hold a "National Day" event at the Osaka Expo on July 19. The organizers of the Osaka Expo are operating "National Days" for each participating country, allowing them to showcase their unique traditions and cultures in turn. According to Bloomberg News, a senior US administration official stated that Secretary Besent's purpose in visiting Japan is to lead the US delegation attending the Expo, and there will be no official bilateral meetings or trade negotiations. However, since this will be Secretary Besent's first visit to Japan since US-Japan trade negotiations began in April, there is speculation that discussions related to trade negotiations may occur behind the scenes.
US President Donald Trump sent a "tariff letter" the previous day to 14 countries, including South Korea and Japan. According to the letter, both South Korea and Japan will be subject to a 25% tariff starting August 1. Japan was notified of a tariff rate that is 1 percentage point higher than the previously announced reciprocal tariff (24%).
If Secretary Besent visits Japan next week, there is also attention on whether he will visit South Korea during the trip.
Reuters also reported, citing sources, that Secretary Besent has decided not to attend the G20 finance ministers' meeting scheduled to be held in Durban, South Africa, on July 17-18.
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