Trump Announces 15% Reciprocal Tariff Agreement with Japan... $550 Billion Investment in U.S.

On July 22 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had reached an agreement with Japan in trade negotiations to impose a 15% reciprocal tariff.

He stated on his self-created social networking service, Truth Social, "We have concluded the largest deal in history with Japan."

President Trump also highlighted the results of the negotiations, saying, "Japan will invest $550 billion (about 759 trillion won) in the United States, and the U.S. will take more than 90% of the profits."

In particular, President Trump emphasized that Japan had agreed to open its domestic market to a variety of products, including automobiles, trucks, rice, and certain agricultural goods. He stated, "This is a very exciting time for the United States, and it is even more meaningful because we can continue our excellent relationship with Japan."

Until just recently, however, the atmosphere within the Japanese government was different. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, during a recent campaign rally for the House of Councillors election, stressed that this was a "fight for the national interest" and expressed a firm stance, saying Japan "cannot simply comply" with the U.S. demand for tariffs. Despite the alliance with the United States, he made it clear that Japan would maintain its own position in trade negotiations.

Japan's chief negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, also stated at the time, "We will bring the issue of automobile tariffs to the negotiating table, and there will be no sacrificing of the agricultural sector, including rice."