US-JAPAN: Trump To Attend Meeting w/Japan's Chief Trade Negotiator

President Donald Trump posts on Truth Social: "Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and “TRADE FAIRNESS.” I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!". As the first country to come to the US for negotiations following the suspension of 'reciprocal' tariffs, the meeting will be watched closely not just in Tokyo, but in the capitals of other US allies for signs of how the Trump administration will treat its friends when it comes to trade talks. 

• As the FT reports "Diplomats said Japan’s status as a “guinea pig” in trade talks might give it an advantage over other countries, but also made it a test case of just how hard the US administration was prepared to hit friends and foes. Japan’s trade surplus with the US is among the 10 biggest in the world."
• Bloomberg reports that Treasury Sec Scott Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer are keen to discuss currency issues. However, Japan's Economic Revitalisaiton Minister and chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa does not have the currency portfolio under his command. Instead, this is managed by Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato.
• Earlier in the week, Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba said in a parliamentary committee session that "We do not intend to make one compromise after another to conclude negotiations swiftly," potentially indicating of a hard-line stance to be adopted by the Japanese negotiators.