“Japan Must Not Bend to U.S. Trade Pressure; Oguma Compares Trump’s Tariffs to Extortion”

Japanese opposition lawmaker Shinji Oguma of the Constitutional Democratic Party has condemned President Donald Trump’s tariffs, likening them to “extortion.” During the parliamentary committee hearing, Oguma urged the Japanese government to stand firm against American pressure, warning that yielding to such demands could set a dangerous precedent.

This week marked the commencement of trade and security discussions between the U.S. and Japan, the first since Trump assumed office and announced plans for aggressive tariffs aimed at reshaping global trade dynamics. Japan is among the first nations to enter negotiations with the U.S., with Trump and his administration reportedly receiving an influx of calls from various countries eager to establish trade agreements.

Following the talks, Trump characterized the discussions as “big progress,” while Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba cautioned that the negotiations might be challenging. Ishiba emphasized that he is not willing to make significant concessions just to expedite a deal, stating, “Of course, the negotiations will not be easy going forward, but President Trump has stated that he wants to give top priority to the talks with Japan.”

Oguma, in his remarks, conveyed strong disapproval of Trump’s tariff strategy, referring to it as “a mess.” He questioned the wisdom of engaging in negotiations under such circumstances, advising caution. “Consider every option, but you should never make concessions to someone who is not straight up anyway,” Oguma cautioned, adding, “I hope that you will never give in to the American extortionists. I know this is harsh to say, but they are extortionists.”

He further illustrated his point by likening the U.S. approach to that of “a delinquent kid extorting someone,” warning that compliance with unreasonable demands could lead to a cycle of further extortion. “If you get mugged and put money in their hands, they will come back to mug us,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has advocated for a diplomatic response to the evolving U.S. trade policy, describing the situation as akin to “a daily menu” subject to frequent changes. He previously labeled the tariffs as “regrettable,” according to Kyodo News.

Despite Trump’s recent decision to retract reciprocal tariffs against trade partners, Japan faces a 10 percent baseline tariff and a 25 percent tax on imported cars and steel, among other exports. The country recorded a trade deficit in its March-April fiscal year but maintained a surplus with the U.S., as reported by Japan’s Finance Ministry.

For the fiscal year ending in March, Japan’s global trade deficit reached 5.2 trillion yen ($36.5 billion), marking the fourth consecutive year of deficits, while its surplus with the U.S. soared to 9 trillion yen ($63 billion).