Japan may not be able to reach a trade agreement with the United States before the end of July
ChainCatcher News, Japan has signaled that it is ready to reach a better agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump on trade tariffs, rather than risk a domestic political backlash by making a deal. Japan is eager to avoid any deterioration in relations with Washington, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba initially prioritized being the first country to enter the U.S. negotiating table.However, officials and analysts say that business leaders and members of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party are urging him to reject any agreement that jeopardizes the automotive industry or threatens domestic farmers, forcing him to rethink. "While Japan is very eager to be the first country to negotiate with Washington on tariffs, that sense of urgency has now shifted to ensuring that Japan gets a good deal," a Japanese official said. Officials indicated that it is unlikely an agreement will be reached before the Japanese Senate elections. The Japanese Senate elections are scheduled for the end of July, which is expected to be a significant test for the highly unpopular Ishiba administration.