Tag: Trump tarrifs

Trump and Takaichi Reaffirm US-Japan Alliance in Tokyo

Trump and Takaichi Reaffirm US-Japan Alliance in Tokyo

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United States President Donald Trump and new Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae met in Tokyo yesterday and officially America and Japan reaffirmed its alliance, according to the English news report of NHK and other sources.

For the newcomers reading this, Takaichi was recently elected as the new Prime Minister of Japan while Trump arrived from Malaysia where he presided the formal signing of a peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, and reached trade agreements with some Southeast Asian nations. Trump and Takaichi both attended the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from NHK’s English news report. Some parts in boldface…

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and US President Donald Trump are taking part in a series of talks and appearances during their first summit in Tokyo.

Takaichi welcomed Trump at the State Guest House in Tokyo Tuesday morning. They received a salute from a ceremonial guard of honor with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. Soon after, the two leaders sat down for their first face-to-face meeting.

Takaichi said, “I am determined to restore Japan’s dynamic diplomacy to protect Japanese national interests. I am ready to promote further collaboration between Japan and the United States toward our shared goal of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific. I want to realize a new golden age of our Japan-US alliance in which both nations become stronger and more prosperous.“

Trump said, “I have always had a great love of Japan and a great respect of Japan, and I will say that this will be a relationship that will be stronger than ever before, and I look forward to working with you and on behalf of our country. I want to just let you know anytime you have any questions, any doubt, anything you want, any favors you need, anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there, we are an ally at the strongest level.”

The two leaders have signed documents to cement a deal reached as a result of tariff talks.

Trump meets abductee families – After the meeting, Trump met families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.

He said, “I met the families before, and I’m with them all the way, and the US is with them all the way, and with Japan and the prime minister.“

Trump also said he’s had the issue in mind since meeting late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. He told the families the US will do everything in its power to help.

Japan’s government says at least 17 Japanese nationals were kidnapped by North Korean agents in the 1970s and ’80s. Five of them returned in 2002, but what happened to a dozen others remains unknown.

Takaichi seeks to strengthen security, economic ties with US – Ahead of the meeting on Tuesday morning, Takaichi wrote on X that she is looking forward to “having a fruitful discussion on how we can further strengthen our great Alliance.”

Trump has complained that the burden for security shouldered by US allies is insufficient. The measures include revising three national security documents, including the National Security Strategy, by the end of next year.

Japan had been aiming to increase defense spending and related expenditures to two percent of the GDP in fiscal 2027. Takaichi will likely tell Trump that Japan will instead achieve that goal in the current fiscal year.

Takaichi wants to use the occasion to build a personal relationship with Trump. She is also hoping to enhance bilateral cooperation across a wide range of fields, including security and economy.

For additional coverage of Trump’s visit in Japan, watch the selected YouTube videos below…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you feeling confident that US-Japan relations will improve under Trump and Takaichi? Considering the geopolitical interests of both leaders, do you think US-Japan will help turn the tide against Communist China with regards to disputes on the sea of Southeast Asia? Do you think illegal immigrants, the LGBTQ mob, the woke extremists and Islamists are now feeling uneasy about invading Japan and America?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Trade Chief Points To Trump Tariffs As Country Braces For Dumping Of Products From Asian Neighbors

Philippines Trade Chief Points To Trump Tariffs As Country Braces For Dumping Of Products From Asian Neighbors

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Here we go again with the perceived challenges related to the tariffs of Trump-led America. This time around the secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) pointed to the Trump tariffs which she said raised the risk of products from Asian neighbors getting dumped into the Philippines and potentially harm local industries, according to news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, the Trump administration had set a series of tariff rates for different nations in Asia. American tariff on Philippines-made products was set at 19% after the big meeting between US President Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

It is a known fact that many nations in Asia export their products to the United States but with the new tariffs in effect and the fact that the Philippines has a population of more than one hundred million people, the latter is anticipated to become the dumping ground of Asian products. This development is happening just as the economy of the Philippines will grow by less than 6% this year (click here, here and here). Recently, the US State Department published a report about pervasive corruption being a barrier to investment in the Philippines.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The recent increase in the United States’ tariff rates heightened the risk of Asian goods being dumped into the Philippine market, raising the need for more stringent measures to protect local industries, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said Wednesday.

Roque, in an interview on the sidelines of the Federation of Philippine Industries Inc. Business Summit in Makati City, said they expect increased entry of steel, cement, and garments, among others.

She traced this to the attractiveness of the Philippines as a market, given the country’s large population of over 100 million. She said DTI will work closely with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to ensure that only registered and properly taxed goods enter the country.

The DTI will also coordinate with local industries to prevent the continued spread of unregistered products in the market.

On Tuesday, personnel from DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau seized around PHP2 million worth of substandard construction materials from 24 retailers in Central Luzon as it strengthened its drive against uncertified and unsafe products in the market.

“We need to protect the manufacturing industry of the Philippines. So us, being in government, and us making sure we protect the jobs of the people,” she said.

Roque also noted that although investments continue to pour in, the volume is not what they had expected, thus, the need to boost local industries.

“So, we try to help them resolve whatever issues they have. And then we also at least help them strengthen or level up their businesses,” she explained.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think it is only a matter of time before a massive amount of Asian products (originally made for export to America) will arrive in the markets of the Philippines very soon? Did you notice any unregistered or sub-par quality products from overseas already being sold locally? What do you think can the DTI do to protect the local industries and livelihood of many Filipinos?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

US State Department Flags Corruption In The Philippines As Barrier To Investment

US State Department Flags Corruption In The Philippines As Barrier To Investment

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Corruption is sadly deeply rooted here in the Philippines. So much so, the State Department of the United States flagged corruption as a barrier to investment in the Philippines, according to a GMA Network news report. To be clear, there have been economic forecasts about the Philippine economy growing less than 6% this year (possibly ending below the national government’s declared targets) and the US State Department published its detailed report about the country and investment online. As a lot of people are angry over corruption, tremendous economic damage of P1.7 trillion in market capitalization was wiped out (update: the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman apologized for stating the P1.7 trillion figure).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldface…

The United States Department of State has flagged “pervasive” corruption in the Philippines as among the major barriers to foreign investment in the country.

In its 2025 Investment Climate report, the US State Department said “corruption is a pervasive and long-standing problem in both the public and private sector” in the Philippines.

It also cited the country’s rank of 114th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index and “remaining around that level since 2019.”

The State Department added that the World Economic Forum also flagged corruption as among the top problematic factors for doing business in the Philippines.

“The Philippines’ complex, slow, redundant, and sometimes corrupt judicial system inhibits the timely and fair resolution of commercial disputes,” it said.

“Foreign investors describe the inefficiency and uncertainty of the judicial system as a significant barrier to investment. Investors often decline to file cases in court because of slow and complex litigation processes and fears of corruption. Stakeholders report an inexperienced judiciary when confronted with cases involving complex issues such as technology or science,” it added.

The State Department also said its embassy in Manila has received multiple reports from US businesses of overly invasive searches, inconsistent customs charges, and solicitations of “facilitation fees” (such as bribes) from some customs officials.

To see the entire 2025 Investment Climate Statements about the Philippines, click https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-investment-climate-statements/philippines

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the US State Department’s 2025 Investment Climate report about the Philippines is true and accurate? Are you concerned that the perceived corruption as well as the shocking revelations about the flood control projects scandals are already discouraging foreign investors from investing in the country? Do you think the Trump tariffs will eventually bring down Philippine exports to the United States in the next few months? What do you think the Philippine government should do to wipe out corruption and regain the trust of foreign investors?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco