Trump opens state visit, needles Japan over trade issues

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Trump opens state visit, needles Japan over trade issues

By JILL COLVIN and DARLENE SUPERVILLE
May 25, 2019

TOKYO (AP) — President Donald Trump opened a state visit to Japan on Saturday by needling the country over its trade imbalance with the United States. “Maybe that’s why you like me so much,” he joshed.

Trump also promoted the U.S. under his leadership, saying “there’s never been a better time” to invest or do business in America, and he urged corporate leaders to come.

The president’s first event after arriving in Tokyo was a reception with several dozen Japanese and American business leaders at the U.S. ambassador’s residence. He said the two countries “are hard at work” negotiating a trade agreement .

“I would say that Japan has had a substantial edge for many, many years, but that’s OK,” Trump said, joking that “maybe that’s why you like me so much.”

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/2a56ac6815c8484b854bb0cd50d413d9

[soryang]

1. Among the so called "six parties" in northeast Asia, Japan is critical...

to the US maintaining it's forward position geo-politically. Trump really has very little leverage with Abe. The other four states in the region disagree with the US approach to North Korea. Japan can't be bullied like South Korea.

Abe and Trump are birds of feather, they will sink or swim together. So if Trump wants to shoot himself in the foot, keep on with the trade negotiation nonsense.