It was supposed to be an “achievement” for the Ishiba administration, but the unwritten tariff agreement “is coming at a cost”

The Trump administration in the United States imposed “reciprocal tariffs” on the 7th without applying the “special measures” that the Japanese government claims it agreed upon in negotiations.

For Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is facing calls to resign after his party’s heavy defeat in the upper house election, reaching a trade agreement with the U.S. was a major accomplishment. He has consistently cited the “faithful implementation of the agreement” as a key reason for remaining in office. However, the failure to apply the agreed measures and the subsequent imposition of tariffs by the U.S. have increased distrust in the Prime Minister and could critically damage his administration.

Yoshihiko Noda, the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, pointed out during a party meeting that the government seemed proud of the agreement on reciprocal tariffs, but the reality turned out to be different.