Expected Surprise of Trump’s Inauguration

As predicted, Donald Trump signed a bunch of executive orders on the Day 1 as the 47th President of the United States. Although they were accustomed to radical delivery of his America First policies, the leaders of Japanese politics and economy were appalled with a reality of the US going wild. Japan is considering how to deal with the US administration with uncertainty. 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who hoped to meet with Trump soon after the victory in the presidential election last November, but not fulfilled, is preparing for one-on-one meeting with Trump in Washington early February. “I hope to make a sincere discussion and build a relationship based on trust to develop the bilateral relations between Japan and US for seeking our national interests,” said Ishiba. On Trump’s inauguration address, Ishiba had an impression that it was something which Mr. Trump had been saying in the presidential campaign.

 

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwaya, attended the inauguration ceremony in Washington DC for the first time as Japanese foreign minister. The day after the inauguration, Iwaya had a meeting with US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, exchanging views for enhancing deterrence and response capabilities of Japan-US alliance, importance of Japan-US economic relations and coordination of like-minded countries such as Republic of Korea, Philippines, Australia and India.

 

What was shocking for Japanese government was Trump’s executive order to withdraw from Paris Agreement, which set a goal to contain growth of average temperature of the earth within 1.5 degree Celsius. “It seems to be regrettable. We will seek cooperation with the US taking every opportunity,” said Minister of Environment, Keiichiro Asao.

 

The head of Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda, was worried about Trump’s walk away from Paris Agreement, predicting it to be a great concern for the world. “I think how to deal with Trump administration will be one of the biggest issues in coming session of the Diet,” said Noda in his press conference in Tokyo.

 

Referring to Trump’s willingness to raise tariffs on foreign goods, the leaders of leading parties expressed concern on negative impact on security or economy. The Chief Representatives of Komeito, Tetsuo Saito, criticized Trump’s action for raising tariffs as inappropriate for the leader of free trade.

 

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Yoji Muto, insisted that he would have to assess the impact of Trump’s trade policy on Japanese companies. “We need to keep close communication with US government to develop economic relationship between Japan and US in a way which would contribute to promote national interest of both countries,” said Muto in his press conference.

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